The Next Avatar (On Hold)

Chapter 15

I couldn't find Mio. I had been searching for hours without stopping to eat or rest. I had gone back to Leo's but he had apologized and told me he hadn't seen him. He had thought I had taken him with me. Exhausted, I stopped walking, and sat down on a park bench. Tears welled up in my eyes and I found myself crying as the sun finally set. It was already getting dark out and I knew my chances of finding him were slim.

Maybe I can try again tomorrow.

After wandering through town for awhile, I decided to get something to eat. I bought 4 steamed meat buns from a vendor and payed for a cheap hotel room to spend the night in. I hadn't eaten all day so I scarfed down the meat buns easily.

Afterwards I just laid on the floor looking up at the ceiling. I was so irresponsible. Mio is gone now. I just hope whoever has him treats him well.
With that last thought, I headed to the showers to wash up.

After washing my hair, I carefully stepped into the bath. The hot water relaxed me and I sighed in pleasure. I sat there for what seemed like hours, letting the tension leave my body. There was one other woman in the large bath, so I sat behind a rock to shield my body.

As soon as she got out and left, I felt relieved. Just as I moved away from the rock and out into the open, I heard a voice. "Hey." The sudden voice startled me and I shrieked before I dove back behind the rock.

And there she was. Again. "Cleo." I muttered. "Geez. You're so weird." She sighed before dropping her towel and stepping into the bath. I averted my gaze and stayed silent. She came over to me and I sunk further into the water, hoping she couldn't see anything. She sat herself next to me and sighed again.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. "Same as you I guess." It was silent for awhile, with nothing but the sound of crickets audible. Then she turned to look at me with an apologetic look on her face. "Listen...I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said earlier. I should have helped you search for your ra- uh ferret. It was wrong of me to treat you that way." Her genuine words surprised me. "It's okay." I said sheepishly. "I forgive you."

She grinned. "So we're friends again right?" My eyes widened. "I thought you said we were never friends." She frowned. "I didn't mean that. I was just irritated because..." She trailed off. "Because?" I prompted. "Because of a personal problem. That day I woke up, the alcohol faded and I was reminded of my problems. I played it off as wanting to go on a date with Blane, but in reality I had to take care of something else. I never went on that date."

I finally understood. Cleo was dealing with her own problems. At that time, she had to take care of something important and couldn't help me. "...W-What is your personal problem?" I knew I was prying, but I wanted to at least try to see if she would open up to me. She stayed silent.

I couldn't stand the silence any longer. "It's okay if you're not ready to tell me. Do you wanna go to Leo's restaurant after we get out?" I thought maybe being with Leo would help her forget her problems for awhile. Just until she's ready to face them. "Yeah that sounds great. His food always makes me feel better." She smiled, suddenly in a cheerful mood.

"Y-You should go first." I said quietly.  "Why? We're both girls." She said, looking at me oddly. I frowned. "That doesn't mean I'm gonna let you see me naked." A sly smile made it's way upon her face. "You're not gonna let me? Is that a challenge?" Suddenly water shot up and grabbed my arms.

"Stop!" I yelled. I threw my leg up and the earth shot towards her. "Okay okay, calm down. You could have killed me with that chunk of rock you know." She laughed. "Anyway let's go." I stayed put as she got out and grabbed her towel. "I'll change first since you're such a big baby about showing me your body."

She left for awhile, then came back fully dressed to tell me she would wait outside of the changing room. After I was sure she was gone I got out and got dressed. "You done?" She shouted. "Y-Yeah but don't shout people are trying to sleep." Soon we were on our way to Leo's.

As we walked through town somebody called out to me. "Olive." I turned around to find Blane, a serious look on his face. "I need to tell you something." Cleo and I followed Blane to the park. It was empty this late at night. "Blane?" I called out. "Your ferret is dead." He said.

I stiffened and Cleo looked confused. "Blane what the hell?" He turned around to face us. "I'm sorry Olive.. but that ferrets fur was worth a lot of money. I sold him and he's already been skinned." I stood there in shock, not really registering that he was saying. What?

Suddenly, it hit me. My eyes filled with tears. "Y-You're lying! Why would you do that?!" I cried out. "How did you take her ferret? I was all over you last night. We were walking right next to each other and I never saw him." Cleo scowled.

"Len. He was walking behind us the whole time with it and you never noticed. You guys were so drunk." Tears streamed down my face. Is Mio really gone? "You bastard!" Cleo growled. But Blane seemed to ignore her and look right at me. "Jax wasn't in on it. He tried to convince me to give it back to you but we needed that money. You don't understand. We are struggling to survive. We have no money, no food. When we ate last night it was the first time in a long ttime. Leo even gave us a discount because he knew we were struggling."

"Our mother is sick, and with this money I can finally afford her medicene." I wiped away my tears and glared. "There had to be other ways!" He glared right back. "There was no other way. If I had tried to save up my money, it would have taken years and my mom would have died by now!"

"So you had to make me miserable?!" It sounded so selfish. But he had killed my only companion, an animal I loved, and I was filled with hatred. "I guess to you animals lives are more important than human ones." He yelled. "Maybe they are! Because with people like you around animals are starting to act more like humans than humans themselves!" I yelled back.

"I had no choice." He said firmly. "You are a murderer!" I cried. He made a pained expression. "I did what I had to in order to save my mom. If that makes me a murderer then so be it!" I began to cry again, despite trying to stay strong. "Is taking a life really worth saving another!?"

He stiffened. Then spoke in a low voice. "Yes. I would take someone else's life if it would mean saving the life of someone I love." To that I had nothing to say. I just stood there crying silently. "I came here to confess this and to give you something." He continued.

He held out a necklace. There was a small metal cylinder held by a sliver chain. "His ashes." My eyes widened. Slowly, I reached out and took the necklace, holding it close to my chest. "...Now you can kill me. I killed your pet, and you're angry right? I've already taken care of my mom's illness and my brothers will be fine." A part of me wanted to kill him, wanted to make him pay for hurting Mio and for hurting me, but I knew that wouldn't do any good.

"No." I said weakly. Then I left, not daring to look back at him. I could understand why he did it, but I couldn't forgive him.

Why is it the people I trust always betray me in the end?