THE UNTOUCHABLE [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 24: A DEAD GARDEN

The woman walked closer to Charlotte in slow, sure steps. Charlotte fought to move but she still could not move, then she also tried shaking her head, which did not work as well.

She felt stuck, and the woman kept coming closer at her.

When she got close enough, she nodded at Charlotte while her hands came to Charlotte's temple, and massaged the temple. That woman's fingers felt cold on her sweaty temple. The massage, along with a chant of some spells that the woman whispered, served like a key that opened a door in Charlotte's mind. A door that had so far blocked memories, memories of all that had happened to her during her vacation a few weeks ago.

"I am Valis. I am a servant of Lady Sylve, from the Order of Guardians of the Abyss. By permission of Lady Sylve, I have come to let you remember again, and I have come to you bearing a message from Lady Sylve. Rogh has arisen again, and we need your help."

Tears started falling in Charlotte's cheek the more she remembered. Along with her memories, she also regained her ability to speak and move.

"Arran." That was the first word from her remembered memories that she uttered. "I remember all again. Arran! How is he?"

The woman, Valis, sighed and took a few steps back. "He is not doing well. Lady Sylve and I have had to chain him again. Rogh got so much stronger in his mind now. And immora—"

"What happen to it?"

"It has refused to move at all, we cannot pick it up from the ground. A day after you left, it flew by itself to the back garden, fell dead on the ground and we have not been able to move it or pick it up. We are in trouble, Charlotte. Immora does not work, Lady Sylve is much weakened now, Arran is hanging by a thread, if he turns to darkness too, we will lose this battle for all eternity. Rogh will release his demons to devour humanity."

"Then-then what can I do?"

"Immora wants you. Arran needs your light. It is hard to believe, after all the centuries, this battle will be decided by a-a human. A human girl. Like you."

"A human girl like me—" Charlotte repeated that, and felt it was special indeed. A human girl who loved to eat her spicy ramen directly from the saucepan, who was a clown-for-hire for kids birthday parties, who planned to learn balloon art, who was still grieving the loss of her mom ...

"Would you come with me? To the castle?" Valis looked at her with eyes full of worry.

Charlotte froze for a few seconds—what a weird turn her life had taken. But Arran was back in her mind again, Arran who was always special for her, someone whom she could not lose.

"For Arran ... I would do anything to help him after what he has done for me." Charlotte now knew, she had seen Arran in his fight against darkness in her dream. Weakened, exhausted, and on the brink of letting go his battle to stay in the light—Arran had come to see her.

Valis nodded.

"But-but how about if I cannot help? If I fail?"

Valis shook her head. "I do not think that is a good thing, Charlotte."

Charlotte stood for a moment, toying with the idea if she could call Dad and Ellie. Would she be back in time for their wedding? Would she survive? Would humanity survive so Dad and Ellie could celebrate their wedding?

"We have to go. Now."

Charlotte stuttered some answer, and she nodded. No need to call Dad and Ellie. She had no idea how, but she would try her very best to be back safely, to be at their wedding.