Eclipse

Chapter 26

★Aruna★

I don't know where I am. I watch in front of me as I glide my hand across the bark of a tree, edges of the wood chipping away as I move past it. My black hair falls in front of me, covering my shoulders. The woods are different, not the ones that we are allowed in. Papa never wanted us to leave the town when we were little, but now that I'm 23, there's not much he could do.

I stopped in front of a tree that seemed different than the others. This one had a carved arrow, the wound in the tree going deep, so much that I half expected to see blood seeping down. The tree that it pointed to had another arrow. I followed them, my steps faster now. The trees went on for so long, and a thought lingered in the back of my mind. I wondered how far from the town I was. How long had I been walking? Was Papa worried?

But even as the thoughts flooded my head, I didn't stop. That was, until I got to another tree, the arrow, this time, pointed down at its roots. Or maybe it was pointing at the dirt that the roots circled around, as if telling me to dig.

And so, I did. I got on my knees, dug my hands into the dirt, and threw it to the side. Not too far under the damp dirt was a large book, the cover too dirtied to read. I picked it up, still on my knees. I opened the first page and saw that it was, indeed, in the language that I speak. I smiled to myself and jumped up before running back in the direction of town.

My eyes fluttered open, the ceiling above me coming into view. I let out a small breath, the dream replaying in my head. I've had many dreams, but never one like that. Never one where I could hear my own thoughts so clearly, like I was living someone else's life.

I sat up, my hand instantly going for my hair as I looked at the strands. It's still white, not black like in the dream. I wondered what the town was that I was thinking of. Who Papa was.

I shook the thoughts away as I quickly got dressed, knowing that Rya expects me in the town today. I watch in the mirror as I wrap my obnoxiously long hair into a bun. Even though I was looking at the mirror, though, all I could see was the arrows in the trees. I could still feel the dirt under my nails, cold and damp, sticking to my skin like a leech.

I shook off the thought as I put my hood on, covering my hair. I strapped my mask around my ears, covering all skin apart from my eyes, before I turned and walked out. I made sure to say bye to Rya first, though she was staring at the ceiling, laying in her bed. My steps faltered; a breath caught in my throat.

I could see tears staining the sides of her face, as if she had cried in that position for hours. But she didn't make a sound. I felt a pang in my chest at the sight. She was thinking about it again.

I took a deep breath before whispering a quiet, I love you, and then leaving. It was always better to leave her alone when she was like that. When I would try to help, it would only make it worse.

★★★

"Thank you, next please," Marel called out, right before I stepped up to her stand.

A covered smile filled my face as I stepped up, her eyes widening upon seeing me. "Ana! How are you?" She asked, tilting her head with a sweet smile.

I nodded since she couldn't see my smile. "I'm doing well, thanks for asking. And you?"

A content look passed her face. "I'm doing alright." She paused before continuing, a look passing her eyes seemingly remembering something. "Oh, and how are you and that boy?"

A lump formed in my throat at the memory of Elio. I let out a small cough, now avoiding eye contact before answering her. "Everything is just fine."

Marel's face fell. Maybe it was my tone, or maybe it was the look in my eyes, but Marel seemed to read me like a book when it came to him. She sighed, her shoulders falling. "I'm sorry."