clarity ~ w.addams

𝟞

The sound of a Cello was the first thing that Celeste heard when she regained her consciousness. She had no idea where she was, or how she got there. No one at Evermore played the Cello, so wherever she was it wasn't home. Everything in her body screamed at her to open her eyes and run, but the beautiful melody made her want to lay there and listen.

Whoever it was, they were expressing a lot of emotion in what they played. They seemed to be angry- mad even.

Celeste blinked slowly, the warmth of fire hitting her face. As her eyes adjusted to the bright light of the flames burning in the small fireplace, she glanced around the room slowly.

The room was dimly lit, the fire being the only source of light. But even in the dark she'd recognise the room without a doubt. It was her mothers office.

"Beautiful isn't it?" her mother spoke up, grabbing Celeste's attention. Her eyes fell on the armchair her mother sat in, facing the window. "Reminds me of when you played the Violin."

Celeste sat up slowly, her head still aching a little. She ignored her mothers comment about the instrument, not wanting to engage in a conversation about the Violin. "What happened?"

Larissa spun the chair back around to face the desk, meeting her daughters eyes. "My question exactly."

Celeste lowered her head, rubbing her temples with the tip of her fingers. She hadn't told Larissa about her episodes yet and she didn't plan on doing so, but now it was inevitable.

"I- uh- I had an Episode." Celeste said quietly, her eyes still fixed on her hands. Larissa remained silent for a moment, before she got up and sat down in the chair across from Celeste.

"Have you had them before?" Her mother asked, her voice calm. Celeste expected her to explode in her face about it, but to her surprise she didn't.

Celeste nodded, "I've had them for a while."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Weems said softly, leaning forward to hold Celeste's hand. She looked up at the woman, allowing her to take her hand.

"I was scared." Celeste admitted, her eyes tearing up a little. She quickly lifter her free hand and wiped the tears away, "I thought you'd be mad at me."

Larissa tilted her head, her eyes softening, "Oh, darling, I'd never be mad at you for something like that. I'm sorry you felt like you couldn't talk to me about this."

"Me too."

"Is that why you've been going to the woods?" Larissa questioned, searching for Celeste's eyes.

Celeste merely nodded, avoiding her mothers eyes.

Larissa sighed. Everything made so much sense now. The woods, the bloods, the lashing out. She'd seen these symptoms before- 20 years ago. Marie Aldridge was a psychic, too. Larissa was friends with her when they were both students at Nevermore. She'd have Episodes, and they got worse from day to day until someone got murdered on school grounds. She'd told Larissa to go outside, which is how she stumbled across the body body.

She remembered Marie telling her that she felt like she was losing her mind.

And she feared that the same thing would happen to Celeste.