Aftermath ✧ Sebastian Sallow

chapter fifty-nine

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Trigger Warning: This chapter includes sensitive conduct - please see the comment for a full description of conduct. 

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Amelia's Perceptive

It took a moment to realize where I had been when I woke up. The Repository was dark of any light. Then the memory shifted forward in my mind of bringing Anne down here and using the remaining magic to try to save her. It must have taken all of my energy again. 

I must have passed out. 

When I reached for my wand and illuminated my surroundings, even a basic spell as lumos felt alien to cast with ice choking in my veins. The magic taken was still adjusting in my body and I worried I'd ever feel the same again. It was like being a passenger in my own body.

As I looked around the darkened Repository more fears came alive. The traces of ancient magic were completely absorbed. The blood smears across the stone. The blood from my own cracked palm was now dried and caked with hardened blood. Then there were more fresh splashes trailing back out that were slowing souring to a deep brown.

And Anne was gone.

I needed to find her. As I pushed myself to my feet, my weight buckled below me in pain. My body felt numb as it was I hadn't even been moving myself. I had to get out of the Repository as soon as possible. But if I apparated, I'd likely hurt myself again, my body was still too weak and only the heat of adrenaline was allowing me to move freely. 

Instead, I climbed the twisting stairs to the Grand Hall as quickly as my body allowed me. With each step further away from the Repository, the move I began to feel a bit more like myself again and less of a ghost.

Anne's voice felt like a faded memory in the back of my head. The last thing I remembered was her apologizing to me as I tried to fix her soul again. My hands still lingered with the oily texture as if magic was still sticking to my fingertips. It had felt unfinished.

The Grand Hall was full of students as normal. However, something felt off as soon as I entered. Despite all of the bodies, it was hauntingly quiet. People were crowding the windows and speaking lowly to one another as I moved closer and closer. My eyes darted across each face in search of Anne. In search of anyone familiar.

Finally, gingery hair flashed against the sunlight in relief of someone to help. 

"Garreth!" I called out, pushing past the crowd of students gathering closer to the window.

Garreth turned quickly at my call, pushing his way back toward me. As he grew closer, he began pulling me away from the windows and the crowd. A few students looked on as he pulled me away.

"Amelia, where have you been? Are you okay?" He asked quickly as he led me away from the crowd.

"I'm fine," I insisted, "But I need to find Anne. Have you seen her?"

Before he could answer my question, he wrapped his arms so tightly around me that I could hardly breathe. My arms were pinned to my side before I could react to the sudden gesture. Another cold shiver blistered under my skin and made me feel ill.

"Amelia, I'm sorry," Garreth said softly, "She's gone."

"What?" I cursed. 

I instantly tried to push myself away from him, but he squeezed me tighter. He knew I would try to run away, that's why he grabbed onto me.