Darker Then The Moon

Chapter 11

The sound of snoring wakes me up. It's loud and annoying. Not only that but who am I laying next to? Rolling over I spot Atticus's sound asleep body next to me. His restless face is twisted up as if he is in pain.

Looking around the room spots of sunlight shine through the holes in the brown curtains. Must be morning..

Leaning closer to Atticus I cup his face with my hands and place a small kiss atop his forehead. Unraveling myself from the mess of blankets I leave Atticus's room and head to my own.

"Where are you going?" I high pitched voice squeaks. Turning around I spot Libertie standing in the doorway of her room. She is in a pair of tan slacks and a pink fluffy blouse. Her red hair is pulled high into a messy ponytail.

"Just going into my room." I state the obvious opening my door.

"Oh, um well... Do you want to come visit Aldra with me?" Libertie asks kicking a small pebble with her toe. "You don't have to, it's just I need someone to go with me. I don't want to go alone."

Why would I want to see her? I mean I love Aldra she's a sweetheart and was so kind to me. But she stole my best friend from me.

Placing my hand of the doorframe my grasp on the wooden frame tightens. Looking over my shoulder I glance at Libertie. "Of course I'll go with you." I smile. "Just let me change."

It won't hurt to go and see Aldra would it?

~

After changing into a pair of blue jean shorts and a white tank top that Libertie lent me (which she got from Atticus, who got them for her in the human world) we make our way down to a part of the castle I've never been to.

The walls are painted white and it smells of a new hospital, sort of like sterol gloves. Above on the walls hangs large bronze light fixtures with candles in the center. The floor is painted a almost blood red with white crosses down the center.

"Liv?" Libertie asks from behind me. Turning around I see she is stopped at a door looking at me with questioning eyes.

"Sorry." Hurrying next to her side Libertie just stands in front of the door unmoving. Staring at the handle as if it is covered in spiders.

"Libertie? Are you okay?"

"No Liv. I'm not. I can't open the door. It scares me. What if Aldra is still badly wounded and the doc wouldn't heal her?" She pauses for a moment before turning to me with a soft smile. "Will you open the door for me Liv?"

"Sure." I sigh. Taking the wooden handle in my hand I twist the knob slowly and peek into the room. It's dimly lit with one single candle next to Aldra who is lying in a soft white bed.

Her eyes fly open as soon as she spots me standing in the doorway. Opening the door more I show her Libertie as well. A big smile spreads across Aldra's face.

"Aldra!" Libertie cries. She nearly runs to the side of Aldra's bed and throws herself at Aldra once within arms length. She tightly hugs the girl and a giggle escapes her lips.

"Nice to see you Lib." Aldra laughs. "Oh! And you too Olivia."

"Yeah, nice to see you too." I try to say with the best tone possible. But it's hard. I truly envy the girl, she's so pretty and probably way better off with Atticus than I am. Leaning my back against the door I fold my arms and look at Aldra.

"Oh Aldra! What happened?!" Libertie asks cupping the girls face as tears swell in her eyes. "He didn't hurt you too bad did he? Oh.. Wait that's stupid I saw what he did to you- oh my goodness Aldra what happened?" She pushes on before Aldra can even open her mouth.

A sadness washes over Aldra's face as Libertie pushes on and on. She looks down and slowly starts to play with her fingers. "Um lib.. I don't actually want to talk about it." Aldra mumbles.

"But Aldra!" Libertie whines.

"Libertie if she doesn't want to talk about it then leave her alone." I say looking over at the white haired girl. She looks perfectly unharmed and untouched. As if she maybe had the cold and nothing more.

"But Liv! I want to know what the hell happened!" Libertie pushes on. Taking Aldra's hands into hers Libertie holds them tight.
"Tell me Aldra, what happened?"

"Lib leave her alone!" I shout causing Libertie and Aldra to both jump. "Leave the poor girl alone, if she doesn't want to talk about what happened then leave it at that." I say out if irritation. I'm not really irritated at Libertie, but the fact that Aldra has the attention of everyone. I use to have all the attention and now it's gone. I use to have a best friend but he's gone, I also use to have another family but I don't even know them.

"Right sorry Aldra.." Libertie says before standing up and exiting the room leaving Aldra and I alone.

We both stay silent, not knowing what to say. But te one question that has been burning in the back of my mind seems to burn it's way forward. "Aldra, can I ask to something?" I ask looking to the floor.

"Um... Sure go ahead." Aldra mumbles looking at me.

Sighing I run my hand through my messy, wavy black hair. "How do I put this," pausing I try to recollect my thoughts and process them into words. "Do you love Atticus."

I watch as surprise covers Aldra's face. Looking up at me with her eyes staring into mine she tries to open her mouth to speak I quickly cut her off continuing my question; "not as a best friend, I mean I understand. Atticus made a new best friend once he had to leave me behind, but do you love Atticus more than a best friend?"

"Well, actually I do." Aldra says loud and proud. "He makes me feel wanted and loved. He treats me as if I am the best thing that has ever happened to him." Aldra continues but her expression quickly changes as she can see the look on my face.

I assume I don't look to happy for hearing her words broke my heart. I know it's something to love your best friend as a best friend and love him more then that. I think I love him more than that. I think I love Atticus baker. "Why?" Aldra asks.

From behind me the door slowly starts to move forward knocking me off balance. I stumble forward as Atticus appears from behind the door holding a bouquet of flowers.

As him eyes come to rest on Aldra a bright smile slips across him face and he steps in the room. Holding the flowers forward he sets them a top her legs. Leaning down he presses his lips on top of her forehead leaving a gentle kiss a top her head.

Leaning back Atticus's smile disappears as he sees Aldra staring at something behind him. That something having to be me. Tracing her stare Atticus comes to rest his eyes on me. Shock and surprise covers his face. "O-Olivia..." He manages to say between a gasp and a swallow.

"Don't worry." I say standing up straight. I try my best to hold myself together and not cry. But the tears seem to over power my emotions and they slowly start to fall one by one. "I was just leaving." Turning my back to Atticus and Aldra I exit the room slamming the door behind me. Atticus's voice ringing in my head as he calls out my name. But it slowly starts to fade away as I start to run down the hallway straight for the outdoors.