Strings of Fate

Chapter 30: Instinct

Narrator's POV:

Friday, December 13th 1912.

Everyone was out that day.

Well, except Y/n and their father.

Being sick, Y/n was in obligation to stay in bed, like if her small bed gripped her to stay there in its arms.

The illness didn't go easy on the 12 years old: their body, sweaty from fighting it and feverish, the only exercise of walking was difficult, almost impossible for now.

Their father, Henry, was staying to take care of them.

-Oh, mon ange, it'll be okay, I promise. Sickness and pain isn't forever.

He spoke, a cold towel being delicately placed on their warm forehead.

-JɄ₴₮ Ⱡł₭Ɇ Ⱨ₳₱₱ł₦Ɇ₴₴ ₳₦Đ ₴Ɇ₵ⱤɆ₮₴ ₳ⱤɆ₦₮ ₣ØⱤɆVɆⱤ...

The dream around them became darker in colors, the only colors and shades remaining being white, black,...

And red.

Blood red.

Blood red on them, blood red on their father. The surroundings grizzled in an uncomfortable radio sizzle, deafening them as they wanted nothing more than for it to stop.

Their body jolted awake and their eyes blinked open.

The place was different.

Well, of course. That's not their childhood home.

This red colored palette home, this was their home in Hell.

This red... It felt terrifying this time for a reason they ignore...

Is the cause of this their dream? How their father had a gash all the length of it's chest, five deep stabs on the rest of the torso?

Was it for another reason they can't understand, like this awful feeling of something about to happen they keep imaginating, like some mass murder, misunderstanding or even some treason of some kind?

They didn't know. They didn't want to know.

So, they focused on the iron grip next to them, still sleeping, the covers around him enough to not let to see everything that's naked down the collarbones.

Alastor looked so beautiful sleeping... It would be a shame to wake him up, wouldn't it? After all, he looked less... demonic under what seemed like a deep sleep.

And yes, less demonic. He maybe wouldn't look angelic sleeping, thought Y/n.

They slowly moved away and, after what could be an eternity later, finally got out of bed to wrap their robe quickly around their also naked body.

If you know, you know.

They almost tripped at the first step. A few steps later too. But they definitely could walk, and so their destination was found thereafter to be the kitchen it's worned out kettle already full with warm water and a bag of tea Rosie surely left last time she came to visit. But, oh well, at least you know that's real tea if that's coming from Rosie herself, not some weird not-for-kids tea bags a few streets at the east of Cannibal Town...

They put the bag inside the cup, let the water fill it and waited for the magic to take effect...

For the water to change color obviously, but it is fun to see it change by itself.

Oh how it felt like magic younger.

But let's come back to the point. That annoying feeling something would happen that you can't shake off...

It felt wrong to say this, but you felt like those dreams weren't there for no reason. First those dreams of your death and that slender man walking towards you, now dreams of your younger memories that felt so real...

It was awful. But obviously that wouldn't come true.

But it still felt strange, you know? That feeling, that instinctive feeling something will happen but you cannot, for the life out of you, find why you feel this. Just like that morning of the fire accident, when you wake up in the middle of the night with the smell of smoke around you.

All day, strangely, Alastor was acting strange. As if the events of last night made him cringe, or some other reason that could possibly make him ignore Y/n completely. All day did they tried to understand what was going on. Maybe he is making them some surprise? After all, Henry was coming over. Their friends too. All were coming to visit Alastor and themselves, but the Radio Demon let them do everything to prepare it.

The day was long, the laughters of others were almost unheard of the young raven. But not the feeling, that feeling telling them something will happen.

They wanted to be wrong. But oh god were they right.

It all started well. Laughters, cheers and chatting all along. They even went out to the Pride Ring and a bar to have some. And let's say this, the beat was "sick" like they heard what seemed like teenaged succubus and imps say around. They guessed that would mean it was a great song.

It started to go wrong when Y/n lost themselves in the crowd, unable to see anyone they know. They tried to search them, trust me, but they couldn't as the crowd was too dense and their wings almost slapped everyone around them. How great was it to be a birdy sinner, right?

It lasted for an hour before they finally moved out the bar, needing something closer to fresh air than the smell of weed, alcohol and smelly armpits. Maybe were they also out, they thought. Somewhere close, they wouldn't forget me. Well, they hoped.

As they stayed around the building, they could hear the voice of their friends, their dad and Alastor in an alley next to that bar. It was almost like whispers, like something they are hiding or like children that didn't want to get caught. Except... those ones were worried. Anxious. Something in this category.

Before they notice, the small hand of Ghost took theirs in a sweet but nervous manner, bringing them closer and hidden from them. Somewhere they were both, them and the smaller child, able to listen every word. They knew Ghost never acted this way usually. And the fact he did now was worrying Y/n in some way.

But their instinct was right. Their eyes widened as tears rolled down their cheeks.

Something was about to happen they felt it all day.

Now all they could do is listen to their words. Of all of them. All of them knowing that information and hiding it from them.

And, maybe for once or for a once-a-blue-moon time, something broke inside them as they got out their hiding spot in a fury. Ghost followed them, his head low and guilty.

The rest looked, speechless, as their rage forced them to listen and aknowledge they now know the truth.

-How long? How long that you all knew? And don't you all try to lie to me...

"Sickness and pain isn't forever... just like happiness and secrets aren't forever Y/n..."

-How fucking long did you all here knew Alastor is the reason I'm dead?

How fucking long did you all knew he is the one who killed me?