Crimson hearts

Two: My fault

~celeste~

"Hello? Is anyone there?" a faint, but all too familiar voice echoed in the background.

"Celestino?" I kept calling out his names for... i lost count of how many times i called out to him, but i didn't get a response anymore.

"Celestino? Please it's me are you there?"

A black shadow of a figure, not too far away, stared deep into my soul. I felt like a fly, trapped into oblivion. I kept looking around me, but all I saw was black.

Everything was black.

Plink.

The babbles and trickles of water droplets dripping was the only thing heard.

I started panting and looking around, not sure what exactly it was I was looking for... maybe it was the hope of finally seeing him safe. or maybe the last part of my mind still functioning and breathing well. Or maybe a safe place. Yes. A safe place. From what? I can't quite figure it out.

"Why would you do that?" A whisper. An echo. A hushed tone speaking into the blackness around me. "Why, Celeste?"

"Tino, where are you? I'm sorry," I started panicking, I don't know what for. Maybe it was because I can't see my brother. My brother i once lived. My brother I once cherished. "I promise I'm sorry, Celestino."

Blink.

He's in front of me.

"Celestino?" I tried reaching out for him, to touch him, to caress him the way I did before, before it all happened.

I can't.
I can't.
I can't.
I can't.

I can't touch him...

"You hurt me, Celeste." A hiss. A sneer. A remark. Celestino was not like this.

"I-I'm sorry... I didn't mean for any of it to happen," I whispered very lowly, he probably barely heard my whisper. Tears threatening to spill now and then, but i couldn't.

CRY.
CRY.
CRY.
CRY.
CRY.
CRY.

I can't cry.

I can't bring myself to cry. My eyes are a barrier, locked, holding my tears from overturning, no matter what.

"You- you did this to me, Celeste," he sneered, making me flinch out of instinct. "I hate you."

"I-I'm sorry... I am," I kelt shaking my head.
Maybe this isn't real.
Maybe it was all a dream, and Celestino is alive.
Maybe it's a joke, a prank on me.

Yes, a joke. This is what it is.

I closed my eyes and the tears finally disclose, It's like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I feel like I can finally breathe.

It's like a dam has been holding back my emotions for so long, and now that the tears are flowing, it's like the dam has finally broken. I feel like I'm standing in the middle of a storm, the rain pouring down on me, but I don't care because I'm finally letting myself feel everything I've been holding back. It's a bittersweet feeling, like I'm mourning the loss of something, but at the same time, I'm relieved that I can finally let go.

But the feeling didn't last long.

I'm running.

Where am I? I don't know.
Why am I running? I also don't know.

perhaps it's to find something. or someone.

I'm panting. Each breath ragged and short. I'm lost.

Then I see a figure.

A black shadow. A tall man. A muscular one to be exact. He's staring at me.

Why?

I can't breathe.

I feel like a butterfly trapped in a jar, and I can't escape. There is no where to go to, to escape.

I feel like the air has been knocked out of my lungs, like my lungs stopped functioning.

I don't mind.

I kept looking around me in frantic movements, sweating, choking.

In one blink, I''m back over there. I'm back in the black space. Except this time, he's here.

"Celestino--"

"It's your fault, I'm missing. Everything is your fault." He responded.

The Celestino I knew was never like this.

"I know- I know, I'm sorry, Tino." Tears flowing, not planning to stop.

And I finally broke down.

I fell on my knees and cried my heart out.

I cried.
I cried.
I cried.
I cried.
I cried.
I cried.

It felt like a gush of wind slapped in the face. Like consciousness slapped me.

I got up as fast as I can and I can hardly breathe.

I closed my eyes and grabbed the sheets in my arms, not conscious about where i was or what was happening.

I took in my surroundings.

It was a dream.