Sacrifice

Chapter Thirty-Four

"Where the hell are you taking me?" Angelita asked impatiently, "Celeste!"

Celeste had grabbed Angelita by the hand to drag her along as she walked around the carnival grounds. She still hadn't told Angelita what was going on because she knew she would need to see it for herself. Celeste searched everywhere for Crybaby and Ben, trying to ignore Angelita's questioning and complaining. After Celeste realized they'd just walked in a large circle, she stopped in front of a food truck and huffed.

"This is ridiculous," Angelita shook her head, "I don't even know why I'm here with you after what you said-"

"Will you just give me a damn minute?" Celeste said in a bothered tone, putting her hand out to Angelita. She rolled her eyes and stood by Celeste as she waited for the next move.

"Let me look around one more time. Please," Celeste asked, turning to Angelita. She hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. You better tell me what this is about, though."

"You'll know what this is about when I find who I'm looking for," Celeste said, taking Angelita with her as she began walking around and searching again.

"'Who' you're looking for? This is about another person? You said no one was hurt."

Celeste didn't respond. She scanned through every crowd she saw, looked at every corner, and checked every game. In a couple minutes, Angelita looked to her left and noticed they were back by the same food truck as before. She stopped walking and stood behind the truck. "Celeste, I'm leaving," she said. Celeste turned to her with a stressed expression on her face, "Wait, please, Angelita. I swear, I didn't call you here for no reason."

"All you've done is walk around the whole carnival twice and drag me along with you..." Angelita ranted. Celeste took some deep breaths. From her peripheral vision, she saw a small figure that had on a pastel rosy sweater. Celeste looked to her right and saw Crybaby standing on the other side of the food truck, not noticing her. She had two water bottles in her hands, and she was looking back as if she was waiting for something.

"Be quiet," Celeste told Angelita.

"What do you mean? I-"

"I said be quiet," Celeste gestured for her to come closer. Angelita walked up next to her and looked in the direction she was looking. She furrowed her eyebrows, "What's Crybaby doing here?"

The two of them kept standing there watching Crybaby as she still seemed to be waiting. Then, a moment later, Ben came walking up to her from in front of the food truck, holding a plate of funnel cake in his hand. Crybaby smiled up at him and grabbed the plate from his hand, then gave him one of the water bottles she was holding. He smiled back at her and gently stroked her cheek.

Angelita's heart sunk and she felt the blood drain from her face. "W-What?" she exhaled, so quietly it was hardly audible. Just as Crybaby and Ben were about to start walking off, Celeste stepped up to them. "You see? This is exactly what I was talking about!" she yelled, pointing at the two of them. They both turned to her, then noticed Angelita standing behind her. Crybaby's blood ran cold, and she dropped the plate. Ben froze up. Celeste looked back at Angelita, "Do you believe me now?" she asked.

Angelita softly stammered. "Crybaby... how could- how could you do this to me?" she asked, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Lita, I... I can explain," Crybaby said shakily.

Celeste scoffed loudly, "There's no way in hell you're still going to try and lie your way out of this. You made your bed, now lie in it."

At that moment, Fleur and Magnolia ran up to the scene, baffled as to what they were all doing there and why everyone looked so upset. They just stood and watched. Angelita shook her head at Crybaby and Ben. "Don't explain shit," she said, her voice on the verge of cracking as tears fell from her eyes.

"Angelita, please. I did it all because I love you," Crybaby started, tears beginning to roll down her face as well.

"No. No, Crybaby, we're done. In every way. I can't even fucking look at you!" Angelita sobbed. Crybaby couldn't think of any words to say; her breath was shaky, and tears were now flowing out of her eyes as well. Angelita remembered she was wearing the locket Crybaby had gifted her on Valentine's Day. She grasped the chain and ripped it off her neck, then threw it on the ground angrily. Crybaby let out a sob and put one hand over her mouth. Celeste got close to Crybaby and looked her dead in the eyes. "I warned you that this would happen. Now, take a look at what you've done," she told her in a low tone. Crybaby couldn't even say anything; if she opened her mouth, she would start sobbing uncontrollably. Her throat began to hurt from how hard she was trying to keep quiet. Celeste glared at her again and then turned around to tend to Angelita, who was crying into her sleeves. Fleur and Magnolia were already trying to provide her with comfort. Celeste hugged Angelita tightly and rubbed her back while she sobbed on her shoulder. "I know, I know. Come on, let's get out of here, love," Celeste said calmly, guiding her the other way toward the front of the carnival. Angelita nodded and started walking. Fleur put her arm around Angelita, and Magnolia gave her the pink stuffed rabbit she'd won earlier. Angelita looked over her shoulder back at Crybaby one more time, causing her to cry harder while they walked away.

Crybaby was still standing there, shocked and devastated. Ben was speechless as he rubbed his temple. In a minute, Crybaby bent down and picked up the broken locket she gave Angelita. She looked down at the picture of the two of them that was inside it. She slowly turned to Ben, and they looked at each other for a few seconds before he took her in his arms. Crybaby immediately started sobbing into his chest, holding the locket in her hand tightly. No words were spoken, they just stood there in the middle of the carnival hugging each other while she cried.