ORCHIDS AT MIDNIGHT

ᬁ𝕮𝖔𝖎𝖓𝖈𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖓𝖈𝖊

*Universe I

Friday. The day I was so grateful for, more than anything. I sat at my desk, going through some last minute documents, submitted by some of the other hunters, who had gone to scout 'No hunt zone. NO 9'. Absurd metaflux fluctuations has been the main concern there for quite a while, raising alarm. I had other missions to partake in , making me basically unable to get anywhere close to the No hunt zone. I massaged the bridge of my nose and tilted my head back gazing up at the ceiling.

What the hell was going on and how did the rate of wanderers increase by 4% in the last 2 months. I sighed, tears slowly blurred my vision, the disaster that happened 2 months ago, a death inducing raid of wanderers, attacked linkon, killing hundreds, I managed to save a few but the others...the bloodied memories invade my mind, some of them, well, I wasn't sure if they were real or not, Tara's eyes were opened as she layed in my arms, blood trickled out and down her mouth, the crystal shards in her abdomen.

She wasn't breathing anymore, I desperately called out to her, hoping she would come back, she had to come back. My best friend. There was a faint voice calling out to me too, it was gentle, soothing. I sat back up and stared at the blonde man that stood in front of me. Xavier. Dressed in his usual-casual beige sweater and black pants. Currently holding the title of the best hunter in the association, he was more calm and normal about it. A warm smile was on his lips, his blue eyes were dull, he just woke up, classic Xavier.

"Hey Sia ...you okay?". He asked, his eyes looked down into mine, his pretty eyes. I smiled and wiped the tears away, nodding as I did so. He hummed, grabbed a seat and sat right beside me. He examines my face for a while, looking at me intently, it was hard to not notice his gaze, it also wasn't uncomfortable as well.
"Visions again?....". Hr finally asked .
Remembering when I spoke to him a while ago, he saw when I was reminiscing and had a really bad headache later. I sighed.

"Not visions, more like memories". I answered, arranging my desk which had all sorts of papers and files on it. I looked at Xavier, his gaze not moving from my face. His skin looked beautiful, out of this world, a warmth rushed to my face and I looked away.

"Why are you flustered?". His calm voice was like a call to snap out of it. How the hell did he know?. I had dark skin. "Your face looks warm". He said again poking at my face and smiled. I tried to think of an excuse any excuse to get me out of the situation. "I'm just tired, probably need to rest". I lied. He gave me a little smile and nodded.

"Well, you should probably call it a day, I'll walk you home". He said and got up, looking at me with that warm smile again. I was attracted to it, his smile, his gaze, his eyes. It was almost like I was looking at a solemn cloud when I looked at him. Crazy world huh?.

We were outside, walking under the stars. There was still some destruction yet to be fixed, it wasn't just the buildings, the roads had been destroyed causing the construction of very high bridges, linkon was changing but it would never be the way I saw it before. Xavier looked up at the sky as we continued our walk, his eyes almost glistening. What was he thinking?...why did he have that expression on his face?.

"The stars are beautiful". He said out of the blue. I looked up at the sky blessed with dotted lights. Giving it a beautiful shade of pink. It was pretty, indeed. "They are...".

"Each star...given it's place in the sky, has a purpose". He began, his words matched my heart beat, steady and strong.

"For every star to have a purpose it must have experienced something...something traumatizing". Xavier said, he was slow in his words and sometimes talked like a senior adult. I smiled. "Does every star have to experience that?". I asked looking straight ahead.

He hummed and stopped in his steps, it takes a while for me to noticed, I also stop and turn around. I see a smile on his face.

"Stars are beautiful, different and special, but the best stars are those that are destroyed to become something even more beautiful".

His words were plain, it felt like I had heard it before. Flashes of blurry images fill my mind and for some reason my heart ached. I see someone...a boy his face was blurred, his voice was in faint whispers, hardly audible...I was on his back...we were together. My chest tightened, I felt sick. My vision, hazy for a moment before I finally regain consciousness. Xavier is at my side, his hand rubbing small circles on my back. What was that?

"Are you okay?". His gentle voice asked. I feel his breath on my cheek. A forced smile gets to my lips and I rise to my feet.

"I am...". A nervous answer, wiping the dust of my knees. I quickly move away from Xavier and give him one last smile. What the heck was that vision? and why does it feel like I have seen this man before...not here but somewhere else. I instantly feel stuffed, my chest was hurting, badly.

"I'll get going now, thank you". I said and quickly ran off. My hand on my chest grabbing my shirt . I didn't look back, no idea why but i didn't. I knew he was still looking at me, frozen in place . The breeze was cold tonight, was it going to rain?. There was a rumble of thunder and it begins to pour. Heavily. I needed to go.

***

"Did she remember?".

AN: The first 4 chapters will be short, they'll be openings to each story. STAY TUNED.