A Fool's Guide to the In-Between [A Twisted Wonderland Fanfic]

Chapter 26

"Riddle?"

The rose-haired boy looked up and let out a sigh when he saw a worried-looking Trey standing at the end of the aisle. The older boy gave Riddle a weak smile and stepped into the aisle, walking silently as he approached the boy. 

"Did you finish it," Trey asked, taking a seat beside Riddle. He allowed his arm to rest on the back of Riddle's chair, his hand gripping the frame as he watched Riddle write down the last few words to the letter, before signing it and folding it up. 

The younger of the two sighed and slipped it into its envelope, tucking the flap in and writing the name Y/N on the front. Then, he handed it to Trey, trying not to crinkle the paper as he fought back tears. 

"C-can you give this to Y/N after..." Riddle trailed off and his head dropped onto Trey's shoulder. Tears finally broke through his resolve and as Trey took the letter from him, Riddle clutched the boy's blazer, threatening to rip the fabric as he sobbed into Trey's shoulder. 

Trey let out an almost inaudible sigh and wrapped his arms around Riddle. It was a comforting embrace, but not the one that Riddle wanted. He wanted Y/N. He wanted Y/N to be safe in his arms, and he wanted to be safe in hers.

* * *

"Are you ready, Riddle," Azul asked as the cauldron started to bubble. He set the stirring rod on the counter and lifted a small crystal vial with a potion contained within, this one glowing like the moon.

Riddle nodded and stepped up to the side of the table, his hands brushing against the rough wood. What would it feel like to forget? Y/N had taken up so much of his mind, of his being... What would it feel like to forget her? To forget the memories that they made together? Would he remember those memories as if she weren't there? Or would he have nothing more than a black void where his memories of her should be? Would he know that he forgot something?

"Riddle?"

The boy glanced to the side and gave Che'nya a comforting smile. 

"You don't have to do this," Che'nya said, walking up to Riddle and taking the boy's hand. "I'm her brother. I'm the one who was supposed to protect her. Let me take the punishment." His hold on Riddle's hand grew tighter as he fought with his pounding heart. He couldn't imagine losing his memories of his dear sister either. The sister who had been there through thick and thin, the sister who had protected him from sadness and dangers, the sister who had never failed to make him smile. The sister that he should have protected.

Riddle shook his head and squeezed Che'nya's hand in return. "No, Che'nya. You're her brother, and more than that, you're her twin. You're half of her." He turned to Azul and took the vial, swirling the contents around as he contemplated what was to come. "She'll need you more than she needs me."

"But she loves you," Che'nya exclaimed, gripping the wrist of the hand holding the vial. "She loves you more than everything!" Tears sprung to Che'nya's eyes. He knew how distraught his sister would be if she lost Riddle. He meant the world to her. He meant more than he could ever know. 

"But she still loves you more," Riddle said. He nodded to Trey, who gently pried Che'nya away from Riddle, holding the boy in a warm embrace as they both started to cry. They had longed to see their friends finally confess their love, living their lives together as children, teenagers, and perhaps even one day as husband and wife. But fate was a cruel mistress. A mistress who loved to hurt and destroy. 

"Keep them safe for me, Trey," Riddle said, raising the potion in a salute. "Make sure she knows that I would have loved her till the end of time."

Trey nodded. "I will."