Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 97: Perfect Ophelia~

Jiu's dream that night started sweetly. He and Leora were sat in the garden, by all the wild flowers; drinking tea, on a picnic blanket. It was a lovely summer's day; not too hot, but not too cold. He was wearing a loose, baggy, white shirt; the typical Victorian ones you'd catch on a summer's day like they were in; with trousers. Leora, on the other hand, was wearing a floaty, laced dress; with astilbe flowers scrawled across her dress. In her hair, sweet, soft smelling flowers seemed to rest on her head. Around the picnic blanket, rhododendron petals seemed to swarm around them. Behind them, the manor loomed, but it was practically a haze from the golden light that shone around them. Jiu met Leora's gaze and felt his heart warm as he saw her softly smiling at him. She picked up her tea cup, and sipped; gulping down the tea, and the buttercup heads that bobbed in the drink. Jiu frowned, feeling like something about that was somewhat wrong, but he couldn't exactly remember what reality did differently to the dream world.
"Cake?" Leora hummed, gesturing to the victoria sponge, with daffodils sprouting out.
Jiu nodded," Sure..."
Leora gently reached over for the picnic basket, searching for something. Jiu watched as her pale hand brought out a golden ornate dagger. The same one from every dream...

He watched with wide eyes as she sliced into the cake, smiling softly as the strawberry jam dripped onto the plate, and the dandelions swayed, unsteadily. She handed him the plate with a warm smile.
"Here," Leora smiled," A sweet treat, for my sweetheart."
Jiu chuckled, blushing slightly," Thank you, love."
He glanced down at the plate, staring at the dandelions that protruded out from the slice. He saw, in the corner of his eye, Leora cut herself a slice; digging in, eagerly.
"Mmm!" Leora hummed," This cake is so good..."
Jiu glanced up, watching as jam dripped from her lips.
She whined, glancing down at her jam stained hands," Oh no, I'll get it on my dress."
She glanced around, hoping to find something. Her eyes shone, seeing the river.
"I'll just wash my face there!"
Leora immediately sprung up, running over to the river bank. Jiu strained his eyes, noticing white chrysanthemums sprouting from beneath her feet, creating a sort of path towards the river. Jiu's breath hitched in fear, noticing Duncan standing in the river; his gaze not leaving a jagged rock in the water. The general swiftly shot up, trying to rush over as quickly as possible; crying desperately for Leora to stop. She didn't listen. As Duncan turned to her, when she reached the bank of the river, he held out his hand to her. Leora took it, and gently stepped onto the water's surface.

"Leora!" Jiu cried, running desperately, so close to the bank.
But before he could reach it, bones shot up high from the ground, surrounding him in a cage. Jiu grasped the bones, trying desperately to shake them loose, or push past, but they refused to budge. Duncan gently eased Leora down into the river water, and Jiu watched with wide, horrified eyes. Leora lay on her back in the water, her eyes shut, and her mouth shut tightly; her chest no longer rising and falling. Her hands pressed against her breast, holding white chrysanthemums; that stained red on the petals as they graced her lips. Her hair floated around her, a halo of golden, brown; like mermaid hair; her dress, similar. Around her in the water, the heads of flowers bobbed. Astilbe, rhododendron petals, buttercups, daffodils, white chrysanthemums, poppies, roses, marigolds, honeysuckle, daisies; they all floated around her. The perfect portrait of Ophelia. Duncan stared down at her lifeless body, holding a bouquet of purple hyacinths and poppies; he held them tightly to his chest, before he realised Jiu was watching him. He glanced up at the general, his face tear stained, and his expression emotionless.
"Wake up."

Jiu gasped desperately for breath, sitting bolt upright in his bed. Something wasn't right. He dashed out of bed, without hesitation, not caring that it was about four in the morning; running down the corridor without a care of who he woke in the process. He nearly ran down the stairs, but it didn't sway him. He charged straight for Leora's bedroom for tuberculosis; barging in, short of breath. He froze in horror to see she wasn't there, and felt his heart plummet when he saw the blood stain on her bed.
"Fuck!" Jiu cursed.
He sprinted straight for the open patio, charging outside; glancing around desperately for the girl. He saw her hunched figure by the bank side. He begged his nightmare wouldn't come true.
"Leora!" Jiu screamed, running over hurriedly.
Her shoulders were shaking, and horrified cries seemed to spill out of her mouth. He immediately crouched beside her, grasping her carefully; searching her horrified eyes and bloodied lips.
"You're alright," Jiu reassured, seeing her hyperventaling," Fuck, it's going to be okay, Leora. Don't worry, we'll stop the bleeding."
Leora sobbed hysterically, shaking her head. Jiu frowned, confused, searching her eyes; panicked.
"No? What do you mean no?"
"Behind you!" Leora wailed, hysterically.

Jiu's eyes widened. Something behind him? He turned slowly, scared of what might be there, waiting for him. He felt his heart stop at the sight; sheer horror rushing through every inch of his body. Part of the river had turned a horrifying red; stained viciously. A jagged rock suffered the worst of it, blood oozing down each groove. Jiu felt ill from the sight. Floating in the water, was a much too familiar body. The body of someone who had been alive, and well, yesterday. He lay in the horrific water, his face submerged. The gardeners hat caught cruelly on a branch, as it tried to swim away. Archie Mills was dead.