Strife of Misfortune(Wattys2016)

Remembrance

Jane returned on that Friday afternoon, June 19th and Egypt was forced to leave. Before leaving, Jane told Aqua that Loki died in Svartalfheim. He died protecting his brother. Egypt overheard the conversation. Her heart sunk. She covered her mouth to muffle a cry she knew would come. She didn't understand why, why was she weeping over this man? A man she scarcely knew. Why did her heart ache instead of rejoice? Loki slain 82 people. But it wasn't their blood that Egypt wept over. It was his. She felt disgusting. She loathed these tears. Wasn't he the wielder of her fears? It was his face that haunted her dreams. So why? Why couldn't she feel relieved? The monster was gone and Egypt felt lost.

It was a long drive back to her apartment. The girls scarcely exchanged words and were silent for the most part. Egypt sunk into the passenger's seat and gazed out the window. Even the sky appeared to frown. Dark clouds devoured the day. She could see the sun, fighting and struggling to survive. It stretched its light through the clouds only to have it snuffed out. There was no use it fighting it. Egypt didn't want to fight this feeling anymore. She was losing. It was growing. Loki was really gone. She didn't have to be afraid anymore. She didn't have to question anymore. The reality of it was dreadful to her as if she loved the fear.

Egypt then turned away from the window to recount her plan. She was going to retrieve her belongings from Rebecca's place and crash at Ricky's villa in the Hamptons. Knowing him, he was definitely throwing a party. She closed her eyes. She wasn't in the partying mood. Egypt just wanted to curl up into a ball and sink into her mind. She turned her body again. She clung to that memory of Loki touching her. For all the fear she felt, there was something else, something she couldn't quite name. Maybe she didn't want to name it, didn't want to fully admit to the emotions that rushed through her mind. They were as dreadful as the sorrow itself. Egypt didn't want to fall even deeper into the hole.

They've arrived at her apartment complex. Egypt climbed out of the Mercedes and walked into the building. A rush of cool air greeted her and was a nice contrast to the blistering summer heat. Taking the elevator to the 28th floor, she entered Rebecca's place. She found her aunt slouched over the kitchen table. Her hair was a thick tumble of waves scarcely tamed, running along her shoulders. There were dark rings around the tender flesh of her eyes and a scowl formed on her lips. She looked ten years older. The age lines deepened and robbed her of her beauty. Her aunt peered up from her coffee mug and nearly choked. She wasn't expecting Egypt today. Slamming the mug onto the table, Rebecca stood up. "Where were you young lady?!"

"Not this shit again." Egypt rolled her eyes and tossed her keys onto the couch.

"You better watch your mouth when talking to me!"

"'Watch my mouth' that's impossible since my eyes are right here." She pointed to her eyes. "And my mouth is right here. So how the hell am I gonna watch something that's blocked by my nose? Carry a damn mirror everywhere?"

"How were your parents able to tolerate you?" Rebecca's anger rumbled like an angry volcano. She felt herself slipping into the magma. It was tempting to explode. This girl wasn't really her blood, hurting her was an easy option. But the thought of her lord loomed over her head and ended any fantasies.

"Good question." Egypt replied sarcastically. " Be sure to ask them that the next time you see them. But I guess you already know the answer to that. Why else would I be here?" She walked into her room. Rebecca followed after her.

"I've had enough of your crap Egypt!"

"You keep saying that yet you keep coming back for more." Egypt tossed the duffel bag from her closet onto her bed and began to pack.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like?"

"No!" Rebecca grabbed her bag. She knew what was going on. Egypt was planning on leaving. She couldn't let her leave, not when her neck was on the line. "You're not going anywhere."