ᥴ᥅ꪖᦓꫝꫀᦔ ꪻꪮᧁꫀꪻꫝꫀ᥅ (ON HOLD)

• T h r e e •

Aliyah October 1, 2019

"Yeah! Exactly 29! That's too much of a coincidence." I exclaim to Tomorrow.

She shakes her head as she flips a burger on a mini grill I bought at a store a few years ago. "That's great, it really is Aliyah. But can you tell Evan that, please? She's the one who puts the 'Clues' and 'Evidence' together."

    I rub my eyes. "Fine, fine. Ooh-Wait...those aren't the veggie patties, right?"

Tomorrow turns her head towards me, a frown lingering on her lips. "You bought them. If they are, the blame will be on y-" Her eyes go wide as she mutters a couple of swear words. "Goddammit, Aliyah! Your eyes are so red and you've been acting so...bubbly since you've stumbled in here. Please don't tell me you did that again..."

I sigh dramatically. "Tomorrow...I'm old enough to do this! It relieves my stress! Besides, I only did a little today! You should be happy."

I can faintly see tears welling up in Tomorrow's eyes. "Just...go to Evan. Then go rest. Please. For the sake of yourself."

I stand up straight and solute. "Yes ma'am!" I walk towards the Living Room. Evan is at her desk fiddling with a small red radio I got her for her birthday last year. I tap her shoulder. She quickly turns her head around.

    "Jesus, Aliyah! You almost gave me a heart attack!"

    I giggle. "I'm sorry. Anyways! I heard new information today! Did you know there is exactly–"

    "...Exactly 29? Yeah, I heard already. I'm working on it. But thank you...Oh God, Aliyah! Again?!" Evan sets the radio down on the desk and cups my face with her soft hands. She rubs her thumb under my eye. "Why?! I've told you to stop hanging out with those kids! What're their names? Izzy and Edward?"

    "Iris and Eddie actually," I correct. "And I've told you Evan, they're not bad people. They've just...been through a lot."

    She puts her hands on her lap, taking a deep breath. "Aliyah, trauma isn't an excuse for doing bad things!"

    I scoff. "Seriously?! You and Tomorrow want fucking revenge on the...entire goddamn world!"

    Evan shakes her head. "That's different. And don't you want revenge, too?"

    I pause. Shit.

    Evan stands up. "Aliyah, you do want justice, right? You're on our side...right?"

    "O-Of course I do. Just not like this!"

    She eyes me weirdly. "What do you mean 'not like this'?"

    I step back a little. "I...I just don't want anyone to get hurt."

"Everyone outside the orphanage let this happen, goddammit!" Evan yells. "No one asked questions about missing girls, no one from Upstairs asked where we went–"

"YOU DON'T KNOW THAT!" I scream.

Evan's eyes glisten in the light. "Aliyah, someone always gets hurt in situations like this. Not everyone deserves happiness and peace."

I feel a tear slide down my scarred-up cheek. "I know that! But you two want to take out your anger on everyone!" I shake my head. "If you want that...I won't stand by your side anymore."

Evan's face immediately drops. But eventually, she frowns. "Fine, go then."

My eyes widen at her words. "Wh-What?"

Tomorrow walks into the room. Her face is stained with tears and snot. "We can do this without you." She whispers, her voice cracking.

My body freezes in place.

This can't be happening. No. No. We've known each other since we were kids. They wouldn't do this–

Suddenly, I feel a painful tug around my body. My arms clamp against my waist as I slowly begin to float in the air. I look down, noticing Evan's non-corrupted arm extended out toward me.

"You only slowed us down." Evan states.

Against my will, my whole body gets pushed back in mid-air. My stomach flip-flops as glass shards from the doors of the gas station pierce my skin. I scream out in pain as my body finally hits the ground.

I caress my arms against my chest as I take a look at the gas station in the far distance. My blood drips onto the grass slowly. My vision becomes hazier as tears mix with my blood.

Another Death, huh?

I smile, closing my eyes. I let my body fall backward as I feel myself slipping away.

How pathetic.

"Excuse me?!" I faintly hear.

I slowly open my eyes. A tall dark figure is visible from afar. I can't let it see me like this.

Not yet.

I close my eyes again as I place my hands over my forearms. A warm, numb feeling takes over my body as the pain begins to ease away. I open my eyes once more, fresh scars now on my arms.

"Ma'am?" I hear from above.

I look up. A dark-skinned man with bright green eyes is kneeling in front of me. Concern takes over his face.

"Are you okay?" he hesitantly asks.