The Great War

VI

I scroll through a list of colleges Mom sent me. I researched, wrote out applications and waited. All life was now, waiting. Waiting, waiting. Waiting. For that little letter to be sent declaring what happens next in your next chapter of "Life" I was both terrified and excited.

What would happen in college? Would I even get into any? This wait was horrible. I'd be going into college as a virgin, why was I even thinking of that?—my mind snaps back from its daze when my phone rings.

I pick it up and answer it yawning loudly, "Damn you sound tired."

I lean back in my gaming chair and breathe a laugh through my nose. "Cuz' I am. Anyway, what'd ya call for?" I ask Lilium, who I could tell that's who it was by her voice, smooth and light. Always sounded so warm.

"Just called to check in, it's been a while."

I nodded even though she couldn't see, "It has. hasn't it? My bad dude."

"It's fine, anyway are you doing anything today?"

I blankly look at the endless list of colleges still left on my screen. I breath an unsure sigh. "Uuuh... no?" I get off my chair and walk to my dresser opening it.

"You wanna meet up and hang out?"

I shrug and pull a split-colored shirt out. "Sure, where?"

"Downtown? Pretty sure they're setting up for Christmas, and I wanna see what stuff they have."

I pause and look at my open drawer confused, "Isn't it November?" I put her on speaker and look at the month. "Yeah, it is. So, why're they setting up for Christmas?"

I set my phone on the dresser top keeping it on speaker as I change into the shirt and some black shorts with fishnets. "People love Christmas."

I let out a laugh, "But it's the 2nd of November! It's thanksgiving!" I argue and button up the shirt.

"You're right." I nod knowing I am.

"I don't get the appeal of Christmas. It's just another greedy holiday full of snobs and wannabe anything and everything bratty kids." I mumble putting on my fishnets.

"Eh, yeah, well who cares, I like it so meet me there in 30." It didn't even sound like a request.

I grab the phone again and leave my room, the rest of my newly bought apartment which left me in some slight (heavy) debt, was freezing cold. "More or less, probably 20."

She says a small okay and a bye before hanging up. I grab my boots and put them on before grabbing my black bag and keys.

𖤐

I cross my arms walking beside Lilium, my eyes look over all the newly set up Christmas decor. "Bro, it's not even been a week into November." I mumble laughing slightly and she laughed lightly with me.

"You wanna get something to eat? I haven't eaten at all today."

We stopped by a water fountain, which was conveniently located smack in the middle of the town. It was tall and pretty, this whole town was in love with fantasy, so there was a sculpture of a fairy at the top of it. Water spitting from her outstretched hands. It was rather pretty to look at. Unique, one of the only different things from other towns we have.

We get a lot of tourists that come for the mini shops here, some full of old stories of this place, that it was once a town full of mythical beings that lived in peace with humans. Only to go into hiding when our so-called founder chased them away with the talk of them being Satan's pets.

"From the deep pits of hell, they are!" One of the elders quoted to us as kids. I remember loving the tall tales. It reminded me of me and my friends, one of the storytellers that had died later on when I turned 7.

She looked so much different from any one in town. She had these eyes that you'd feel bore into your soul. But it felt so pure because her left eye was this crystal-clear blue with sparks of red, you'd only catch glimpses of it. Her right one was a soft red with the same sparks of blood red. There was a corner where blue was leaking into the red. And she had such pale skin it felt like I was staring at paper, her hair was a natural snowy white; or so she said.

She had told me she lived here in town when it was full of mythical creatures and beings. That she was one of them and always told us to keep it a secret. She once told me and the others when we were younger that if we went to the old school sight—it was all ruins now, an old torn up building covered in decay and vines—she had told us that if we paid close enough attention, we'd see them.

She never clarified who 'them' was. But every time she mentioned it in her old age she'd smile, and her eyes would light up with this pure love for who she spoke of. The day she died was a devastation to the town, and like that the stories had died with her. No one spoke of them anymore; the history of the town died that day.

She had a name that fit her odd look and mind, her name was Ophelia Phosphorus.

"Hey, do you remember that old lady who use to tell us stories? Her name was Ophelia or some shit." I suddenly say after staring at the fountain for so long. Lilium looks over to me and smiles.

"Yeah, her stories always reminded me of us." Lilium says with a smile, pulling her jacket further around her.

I nod and smile fondly as we walk away from the fountain and towards a local Cafe. "She was cool, I dunno why I just remembered her."

Lilium wiggled her fingers in a 'spooky' way, "Maybe her spirits here."

I let out a laugh and nod, "Maybe... We should so go up to that old school she told us about. Maybe we'll see what she blabbed on about for so long."

Lilium shrugs, "I guess, we don't have everyone though."

I sigh knowing she's right. It'd feel weird and kinda wrong to not have the whole group, everyone who knew of Ophelia's stories. So, I dropped it and spent the remainder of the day just hanging out with Lilium.