Unknown Destiny

18

I stop running.

I'm not puffed or out of breath.

I'm just... Tired.

Tired and sick of everything.

Tired of living, tired of breathing. Sick of being sick.

I have not seen Anne in the past two weeks and I plan not to. My apartment is perfectly fine without having social interactions with my next door neighbour.

That was of course until Rachel came rushing in holding a box of pizza and a carton of beer. I hadn't seen her in person since that night but we had been talking over the phone for the past five days when I decided to interact with humans, but for the past day I decided against it. I told her everything apart from the whole supernatural thing. I think she'd flip out or something.

I put my T.V onto mute and look at her from over my couch, "Have you ever heard of knocking?" I ask lazily. Her red hair is tied in a loose bun as she turns to face me.

"I have, but you wouldn't have let me in, so I guessed I would just barge in, and to make it better I brought food and beer."

"What do you want Rachel?" I frown.

"I want you to talk to me." She says opening the beer and handing it to me, "You haven't been replying to my texts or calls for the past day. The last thing we spoke about was if anyone would care if you just died. I was worried. What's wrong?"

I take a sip of the drink, "Life."

"You're taking this rejection thing really hard aren't you?" She replies taking a sip of her own.

"Of course it is. I actually liked her Rachel." I look at her and she taps the spare space beside her on the table.

"Sit."

I leave the couch and blanket behind and sit beside the red head, "Rejection doesn't mean you aren't good enough; it means Anne failed to notice what you had to offer. You'll find love again."

"Woah, who said anything about love?" I ask holding my hands up.

"My telepathic abilities kicked in..." There's a long pause, "I also have eyes and a brain."

I shake my head and look down, "If I hadn't left you alone to go to that party you wouldn't be feeling this... Hell, if I hadn't asked you to come to the bar at all you wouldn't be feeling this pain that's burdening you."

"It was going to happen eventually."

"You're ruining it." She takes another drink, "Just talk to her Cameron."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I'm too stubborn. With the way that I left things with her?" I keep looking down, "She doesn't deserve this."

"She doesn't— Do you hear yourself? God Cam. Stop being selfless. You don't deserve this. You deserve better than someone who won't recognise your full potential."

"You know why I can't sleep at night?" I ask meeting Rachel's black eyes.

She sighs, "Why?"

"Because I kept interrupting her when she was trying to talk. I feel so bad Rachel."

"Do you hear yourself Cameron?" She ask opening the pizza box and handing me a peice, "If you're feeling so guilty talk to her. I think it will do you both good."

"Maybe I'll text her next week."

"Maybe you can walk across the hall and pronounce your undying love for her."

I take a bite of the food, "Sometimes I despise you."

"We've only just become friends, and from what I've seen I'm your only one. You should try and refrain yourself from insulting me."

"Oh spare me with that bullshit. If I insult you just know that I don't mean it." I say smiling.

My smile soon disappear when I hear footsteps outside of my apartment room. Anne's door opens and then closes and I throw my head into my hands.

"Hey are you okay?" Rachel asks from the other side of the counter.

I look back at the red head, "Yeah I'm fine."

"Okay well, Hannah texted me asking if you wanted to come with us to get something to eat. Even though I did bring pizza."

"I wouldn't want to be a third wheel." I reply taking another drink.

"Fine, be like that then."

Rachel stands up and walks to me giving me a warm and tight hug. She kisses my forehead lovingly and rest her chin on the top of my head, "You'll be okay Cameron."

I scoff, "Go get to your girlfriend Rachel."

She chuckles and removes herself from me. As she makes her way to the door she turns and smiles, I think she knows about who Anne really is.

I shake my head a tilt it to the side, "what did you say?"

She looks uneasy for only a moment, "I didn't- I didn't say anything?"

"It will work out between you two. I know it. Trust me." The last thing I see is her smile as she exits my apartment.

I shrug what I thought I heard Rachel say away and return my thoughts to Anne. Maybe I should see her. She is my protector after all. But she did agree to take me to Massimo.

Suddenly I begin to hear whispers slowly becoming louder by the second.

Septima valent, vitam restituit
Sed in sacrificium, ut sit in testimonium
Et abiit regium, puteus 'esse
Et vade in lucem, de banshee
Omnes perierit, vastaturos redeo domum, ut rem non erit consilium.
We will come for you. You won't see us but we'll see you.

I frown, my attempts to block the sound out proves to be a failure. A painful memory comes to surface.

"You changed your mind." The man says. He is tall and wearing a black tuxedo.

"I did." The girl has no face. She is simply. No one.

"What made you do so?" The man looks young, about in his early thirties. It takes several moments for me to realise that what he is sitting on is a throne.

"Her." The girl then turns to face me. My eyes widen in shock and I back away slowly.

The man looks in my direction but says nothing. It is only when he does open his mouth, that I realise the girl has sacrificed herself for me. "Very peculiar indeed."

She turns away from me and back to the man, "Is my choice still valid or not?"

"Are you positive?" He asks standing up.

"Yes."

He sighs unsurprised, "Dogs. They'll stay loyal to the end."

My vision becomes a blur slowly turning black. I disappear from the memory or dream, listening to the girls screams slowly fading out of earshot.

My vision returns and I find myself alone in my apartment. All alone.

My T.V is on mute and I simply shut my eyes trying to forget about the dream. Memory. Vision?

"The Seventh prevailed, life was restored, with sacrifice came a record. Royalty left, the dead were alive, ravaging the earth. The duo left and uncovered the last, with her powers she drew the dead back, and never loved again." I say it trying to escape my now reality.

Only now do I realise how foreshadowing my childhood song relates to my life.