Hereafter (GxG) editing

Chapter 18

Mislead

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"Sorry Autumn, there's no other way." Jareth's voice echoed in the empty basement.

Trembling knees and wild pumping of heart, Autumn breathed deeply. "I want to wait for Athan. . ." She stated. Convinced that if Athan were to be in the same room it will encourage her that she can do it and everything will be alright.

This is it. Jareth will finally end Autumn's suffering. He will take away all of her nightmares that has been ruining her sleep almost every night. She even struggled not to have it affect her studies because not having enough sleep can really fuck things up.

The wooden table between her and Jareth was covered with several black and blue lit candles. The rolled out special paper was prepared in front of Autumn. There was Latin words that Jareth wrote on it and is ready to be covered in blood. The fountain pen adjacent to it is likewise just waiting to be of use for the ritual.

The entire room was dim, the crowd of candles standing on the table was the only source light.

Not long, Thyone showed up. She was sipping something from a black jar with a red straw followed by Athan who was anxious to see her girlfriend be 'possessed' by his own brother. She and Thyone stood there, giving Jareth and Autumn the ritual space they need.

"Are you sure you can cut yourself?" Jareth asked as he handed the stainless knife to Autumn who almost fainted just by holding it. It frightened her knowing that she would have to use it to hurt herself.

She shook head. "I think so." Autumn said dubiously as she lowered the knife to her forearm.

"The bigger the wound, the easier and the faster I can finish." he reminded the only human in the room.

Autumn nodded. She could feel her heart pumping wildly inside. It was uncontrollable. She couldn't cut herself. She's even afraid to see blood and now she have to force her own blood out of her arm. She stimulated her bravery out of its box and convinced herself that it was the only way, it was for her own sake but still. . .she couldn't get herself to just do it!

When Athan, Thyone and Jareth knew she was going to faint based on her pulse rate that they were quite paying attention to, Athan volunteered. "Autumn, let me."

Autumn exhaled a relieved breath. That was what she wanted. Autumn originally had asked Athan to do it for her but Athan just couldn't take the thought of hurting Autumn on purpose. But knowing the human wouldn't do it, she knew this was better that having Autumn faint over nothing.

She sighed as she walked towards Autumn. The knife was transferred to her hand. She looked at Autumn before paying attention to the bare skin that she was about to bruise. Autumn's eyes dwelled on Athan. Slowly but surely, Athan pressed the knife on her skin before gliding it down. Autumn groaned when the cut started to sting as the blood seep between her skin. Still focused on her face, Athan picked the simplified fountain pen with no cap at the end. She pressed it onto Autumn's skin and let the blood roll down to the tip of the fountain pen, making sure no blood was wasted.

It was a quick process and the room remained quiet.

When it's done, all that Autumn had to do was write her name with her own blood, Athan went back to standing beside Thyone watching the rest of the ritual be held.