The Pain in My Heart [Completed]

Chapter Twenty-Three ~Crista

"Where to now," I ask Axil as we both trudge away from Ms. Ophelia's house with nothing more than a basket of sweets. "What do you think actually happened last night? Do you think Willow is holding anything back?"

He looks down at me, his face cocked to the side. "Willow?"

The name had come out of my mouth without any hesitation. "Yeah... I mean... I only know her as Eden's daughter, Emma. Everyone deserves a clean slate."

"While that may be true, I can still be angry that she tried to kill my mother," he says looking out into the town of Senwain, quiet and empty.

I breathe in the crisp air letting it calm me and look up at the street lamps. "That's fair, but we can't hold a grudge," and I say it more convincing myself of the point than confirming it to Axil.

We walk in silence for a bit longer, the only sounds coming from the wind rustling the branches of neighboring bushes and trees. Far off in the distance, I can hear a symphony of critters. Owls and frogs. Crickets and bats. And wandering around in the night, I can't help but wonder if Zaria knew this little girl was Emma.

Does it really matter?

No, I think to myself. It doesn't matter... or it shouldn't. I must be sick in some way. Anger... frustration, depression taking over me in waves. What is this new feeling? I used to be okay. I used to be able to keep my head on my shoulders. But everything feels lost. It feels like for years I had been piecing the puzzle of my life together, and now all the pieces have been ripped apart, flipped over, and scattered all over the floor.

"You never answered my question."

"Which one?"

"Where to now?"

He takes a deep breath and exhales. A puff of breath floats in front of him before dispersing into the night. "Well, we could continue to wait around for the girls or Eden to come to us or..." he pauses, and I know what he's going to say before the words escape his mouth.

"We go to them," I finish for him.

He only nods, as he continues looking far off.

A tiny bit of his wrist sticks out from his jacket. Covered in goosebumps, his fingertips and knuckles have turned a bruised red color from the cold.

I take off the gloves from my hands and hand them over, wrapping my cape tighter around my body.

"No thanks."

"Axil, just take it."

He shakes his head and I know I won't be able to sway him without starting another argument, and I'm very tired of arguing for the moment.

"She gave that girl her cape." He's quiet for a bit, shaking his head as he looks down at his feet. "She's out there somewhere, probably freezing."

His words make me loosen my grip on my own. I let the chill hit my skin, letting it pinprick and bite.

I know the question is stupid before I ask, but the worry makes me ask it anyway. "Do you think they're okay?"

He keeps his head down, his golden hair hanging dangerously close to his eyes. A soft chuckle breaks the silence.

"What?" I ask, a small smile on my face.

"I can only imagine the fight they are putting up... wherever they may be. Zaria... she's all fire. Brilliant and fierce." He chuckles again. "And, Lucy is all ice. Cool and severe. Anyone who tries them is going to wish they hadn't."

I allow myself to chuckle as well, trying to block out the image burned in my memory of Eden's sinister grin. I shiver, and this time it's not from the cold.