Forgotten - A Skulduggery Pleasant Fanfic (COMPLETE)

15

"Allaraaaa..." She opened her eyes to the sound of a voice, long and low in pitch.
"Alllaaaraaa..." She sat up, looking around for the voice. The room was pitch black.
"Allaraaa..." She looked behind her, to the window. 
The blinds were open.
A flash of red hair stood in the backyard, staring in at her window.
"Allara, why did you let me die?"  The voice asked.
Erin.
Allara couldn't move.  She was glued to the bed.
"Why didn't you save me, Allara?"  Erin asked.  Allara blinked, and she moved closer.  Her head was tilted at an odd angle, her face still horribly burnt.
"Why are you just sitting there, Allara?  There are people you need to talk to.  There are things you need to do.  Why are you just sitting there, Allara?"  Erin moved closer yet again as Allara blinked.
"Why don't you just,"  Erin's head shifted until she was looking directly at Allara, "stop being such a hassle on everyone?"
And her head fell off.

Allara woke with a gasp, breathing hard, the blankets curled around her tightly, like bindings.  Her heart raced.
She blinked a few times, looked around the room.
Morning light peered through the closed blinds, shining on her small bedroom.  A moment later, her alarm went off.
Allara swiped her finger over her phone, turning the alarm off, and rolled over in bed, clutching the blankets to herself.
They were back again.
She didn't want to get out of bed.
She wanted to hide under the covers and live the rest of her days away from the rest of the world.
But instead, she forced herself to sit up.
Small steps.
She sat in bed for a good five minutes, debating whether she should just stay and skip school, or go.  The skip option almost won, but she forced herself up and onto her feet, opening her cupboard.
She pulled her school uniform on half-heartedly, brushing her hair in the mirror and putting it in its signature two plaits, one over each shoulder.  She stroked them lightly when she finished, feeling herself calm down.
Thank god that still worked.
Checking the time on her phone, she shoved it into her pocket and grabbed her bag, going to the living room.
Fearless was already awake, as per usual, reading a book with a pair of tiny round glasses on his face.
She took a quick glance of the novel as she went to brush her teeth.
The author was someone named Gordon Edgley.
Grabbing some breakfast and her bag, Allara made for school, saying goodbye as she closed the door behind her.
She made her way onto the street, walking along the path alone, until she came across Shima's house.
Patiently, she waited outside until Shima came bursting out with a rumpled sports uniform on, shouting goodbye to someone indoors.  She trotted down the stairs and grinned at Allara.
"Morning!"  She said cheerily, slinging her backpack over her shoulder.
"Hey."  Allara replied.
"Did you do the homework for photography?" Shima asked.
"Funnily enough, I actually did this time." Allara replied.
"What happened to going down together?" Shima asked, immediately deflating.
"Why, didn't you do the homework?" Allara replied.
"Uh, Mum forgot to pay the electricity bill again, so they shut off the internet." Shima said, sighing. "And the lights."
"You can always come over to mine if you want. I've got internet." Allara said.
"I'm scared of the blonde girl. She's mean to me." Shima laughed. Allara joined in.
"She's not that scary. She's just a little...confrontational."
"I think she hates me."
"I felt the same when I first met her."
"How come you're living with her instead of your family, anyway?" Shima suddenly asked. Allara paused, trying to figure out some kind of lie.
"Uhmm, it's complicated." She finally came up with her answer.
"Well, we've still got a while before we get to school." Shima said, "I'd like to hear your story."
But you wouldn't believe my story. Allara thought.
"I don't really want to explain at the moment." Allara said.
"Okay, fine. But you have to tell me at some point!" Shima grinned.
"Sure." Allara shrugged, fully expecting to not tell Shima at some point.
They got to school a while later, and the day went as normal. Shima almost got a detention for not bringing in her photography homework until she told the teacher what happened. Allara actually paid attention in maths for once, more to take her mind off the nightmare of that morning rather than actually caring about it.
The final bell went and the girls met up at the front of the school, starting the slow walk home. The weather was beginning to cool down now, but that didn't stop them from going to the local milk bar and grabbing an ice cream. It had become a tradition for them on Friday's.
She said goodbye to Shima at her home, and began the walk to her own at a slow pace, enjoying the cooler change to the boiling heat of summer.
When everything had happened.
A shiver ran down her spine.
She would never be able to celebrate summer properly again.
She made it to her home, unlocked the door, and threw her bag down in the entryway.
"Hello?" She called out to the house.
No response.
Sighing, she went into the kitchen, where she found a note on the table.

Fearless says he needs snacks. I've gone with him to make sure he doesn't overspend again.
Make sure all the doors are locked!
T.L

Allara screwed up the note and threw it in the bin, unbothered.
She would just do her homework until they came back.
She went back to her bag, rifling through it for her homework.
Finally, she found it and pulled it out, standing.
"Hiiii, Al!"
Allara froze.