The Great War

III

I freeze in my place my eyes widening at the size of the old school. It wasn't in shambles, ruined and burnt. Destroyed in its historic beauty. No, it was perfect. Where was I?

I approached the stairs slowly, hesitating as I place my hand on the door, only for it to open before I had the chance to even try. My eyes widen as I stare at the man from the hospital. "It's you,"

He nods with a bashful smile, "It is indeed I."

I cross my arms over my chest attempting to hide the fact I had no shirt on, he looks down and his face instantly turns bright red. He averts his eyes and moves to the side. "I'm sure you're quite cold. Come in."

I sidestep and go past him, he felt safe. Normal. He felt like how Theo does. I felt comfortable in his presence. God, I missed Theo, my real Theodore. He seemed to catch onto my sullen look. "What's wrong my dear?"

I look up at him and give the best smile I could, "I'm just confused. Where am I? Who are you?"

His face twists up in sadness as he sighs and takes a small and quick bow, "Forgive me, I'm Mani Canis. I'm sure you'll remember that name."

I lose the ability to breathe as my eyes race over his, that's why he's so familiar. "I saw you..."

He nods solemnly and removes his suspender straps before taking off his shirt and holding it out to me. My eyes drift towards his body. He was pale and lean. I cough quietly and look away as I put his shirt on, buttoning it up. "And I saw you, that's why I came to help you."

I scrunch my brows in confusion, "You saw me?" I question pointing at myself.

He nods with a smile, before his eyes drift to my hand, "Oh dear, you're bleeding." I hum and look down at my hand. "What happened, love?" He takes cautious steps forward before gently taking my hand in his and inspecting it.

"I cut it a while ago,"

He nods and frowns, "Trying to get away from that rancid creature I assume." I nod and follow his lead as he walks us into the cafeteria. "Sit,"

I listen to him and take a seat on a table as he walks off and comes back not a second later with a wet hand-rag. He gently scoops my hand up again and softly wipes the blood off. Being careful not to hurt me anymore then I already was. "How did you see me?"

He glances up at me, "You replaced my Ophelia, you looked almost identical to her. But your eyes are what made the difference." he taps below my eye lovingly.

"I did?" He nods, and his finger caresses my jaw, his eyes filling with sorrow. He sighs and goes back to attending to my hand. "What happened that night?"

He closed his eyes tightly, seemingly reliving the night, "I didn't die, neither did the others. Ophelia's father trapped us here, just as he's doing you." I nod along as he continues,

"He knows your part of Ophelia, in some way. When she could no longer use her life-form, she gave what she had to you, my darling." His hands cup my face as he smiles.

"It's how you are able to go back and forth between present and past. It's how you saw what happened, it's how I saw you."

I frown and nod, "Is there a way back, for us all?"

He pauses and pulls his hands away from me, "Possibly, we'll figure that all out." I sigh and slump, he immediately looks at me and places his hands on my waist. "I assure you; I'll do what I can to help you, love."

I nod and look up at him, that same longing in his eyes, "I know this must be hard for you. To see me, but not Ophelia."

He nods and gives me a sad smile, "It is, very much. I loved her, love her. And I know I'll only see her through you from now on."

I nod and hug him, "I'm sorry."

He cups the back of my neck and hugs me tightly, "Don't apologize for something that isn't your fault." I nod into his shoulder letting him hold me for as long as he needed. Being the comfort that he deserves right now. He pulls away after a minute or two.

"So, do the others know about this?" I ask and he nods before confirming it vocally.

"Ceres does, so does Cora. Smilla wasn't caught in the crossfire, she got out before us. I don't know where she is.'' His voice was full of grief at the end, like her absence was just as terrible.

"I'm sure she's okay, if she was like you and Ophelia, she's probably alive someplace else."

He nods and inhales sharply before wrapping my hand up neatly, "I'm sure you're right, darling. Let's go, shall we?" He holds my hand and helps me down from the table and leads me towards a door and opens it.

"This was the school master's office, of course it's empty now." He places his hand at the small of my back letting me go in first. He shuts the door after us. Cere and Cora stepping out from a corner, presumably hiding.

"What took you so long? We thought something hap—" Ceres pauses as her pearl-colored eyes run over me. "Ophelia?" She whispers in a meek voice before realizing I wasn't her.

"This is Daphne, the girl we saw the night of the incident." Mani explains leading me over to sit in a chair. He stands beside me, hand on my shoulder.

Cora bows briefly before smiling at me, her pale emerald eyes piercing mine. "It's great to officially meet you, Daphne,"

I nod and give her a smile back. "It's nice to meet you all too."

Ceres walks up to me and stares for a moment, "She looks so much like her. I really thought..." She trails off with a sad look as she looks up at Mani.

"You should've seen the state she was in." He mumbles and looks down at me squeezing my shoulder. Cora brushes past Ceres and kneels down in front of me.

Cora was taller than both of the others, probably standing at the height of six-four. She had long pitch-black hair that looked like it was floating off her back. Her skin was a beautiful pale azure. "I need to know how you got here; do you remember?"

I curtly nod and look down at my hands, "I remember bits and pieces."

She nods, "Tell me what you remember."