The falls

chapter 47

As the sun dipped lower into the horizon, casting long shadows across the porch of the Mystery Shack, Lilien, Neomi, and Jessica gathered inside. The weight of what had transpired in the last few days hung in the air between them like a heavy fog. The rip, Bill, Lilien's impulsive decision—all of it had left the trio on edge, uncertain of what to do next.

Lilien sat on the worn-out couch, nervously twisting her fingers together. Neomi stood nearby, arms crossed, her expression still a little tight, while Jessica leaned against the wall, her gaze bouncing between them both. The tension was thick.

"So," Neomi began, breaking the silence, "what are we going to do about the rip? We can't just leave it open. But we can't seal it either, not with Bill guarding it."

Lilien nodded, her mind racing. "Yeah. He's trying to figure out how to direct it only to the Nightmare Realm, but... we know it's connected to other dimensions too. Heaven, maybe hell, who knows what else."

"Exactly," Neomi agreed, pacing. "It's too dangerous to let Bill have control of it. But with him watching it like a hawk, we don't exactly have a chance to get close."

Jessica, who had been quiet, finally spoke up. "We don't need to rush in yet. I think we should take a moment to really think about what we know now. Maybe there's a way to stop him without directly going for the rip."

Lilien's heart felt heavy. She couldn't help but replay the words of the angel that had caught her when she fell through the rip. "There's something else I haven't told you guys yet," she said softly, looking down at her hands.

Neomi's eyes narrowed slightly. "What is it?"

"When I went through the rip... when I was falling... an angel caught me," Lilien explained, her voice trembling. "They told me that I didn't belong there. Not yet. But... they also said I was on the right path."

Neomi's face tightened further. "The right path? After everything? You betrayed us, Lilien. You helped Bill. How could that possibly be the right path?"

Lilien swallowed hard. Neomi's words cut deep, but they weren't unwarranted. She knew she had messed up, made a choice that had risked their safety. "I don't know," she admitted. "I don't understand why the angel would say that either. I've made so many mistakes. I risked my life, I didn't talk to you guys before going through with it... and now Bill knows more about the rip."

Jessica moved closer to the two of them, her expression soft but thoughtful. "It's strange, for sure. But maybe there's more to it than just mistakes," she said. "Everyone makes mistakes, Lilien. You made an honest one. That doesn't mean you're on the wrong path. And Neomi," Jessica turned to her, "I get that you're hurt. I would be too. But maybe it's time we stop being so hard on her. We've all messed up at some point."

Neomi's jaw clenched, but her eyes softened ever so slightly. "I know, but this isn't just some small thing, Jess. She went behind our backs. It's hard to just let that go."

Jessica sighed and put a hand on Lilien's shoulder. "Look, the angel said she's on the right path for a reason. Maybe... maybe what Lilien did wasn't just a mistake. Maybe it was something that needed to happen for us to understand what we're dealing with."

Lilien blinked, feeling a small glimmer of hope. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, think about it," Jessica said. "If you hadn't gone through the rip, we wouldn't know for sure that it's connected to other dimensions besides the Nightmare Realm. That's huge. We need that information to stop Bill, right? And maybe it's a sign that even in our weirdest moments, like our relationship, we're still doing something right."

Neomi uncrossed her arms, looking at both of them. "Okay, fine. I get what you're saying. Maybe there's more to this than I want to admit right now. But we still need to be smart about this. Bill's not someone we can take lightly."

"I agree," Lilien said. "I should've trusted you both. I should've talked to you first."

Neomi sighed, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "Yeah, you should have. But... we're here now. Let's focus on what we can do next."

Jessica smiled softly, glad to see the tension between her two friends starting to fade. "We're in this together, right? We need to figure out how to stop Bill before he figures out how to use the rip. And maybe... maybe there's something about the angel's message we haven't understood yet."

Lilien nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. "You're right. We need to figure out what that message means, and we need to stop Bill. But we do it together this time."

Neomi finally smiled, just a little, and nodded. "Together."

The three of them sat in the Shack, the uncertainty of what lay ahead looming over them, but for now, they were united. Whatever challenges Bill or the rip might throw their way, they would face them as a team.