Mystic Messenger: Losing the Script (Zen x OC)

Chapter 16: The Master Plan

Emerald knew she should be happy. She was going to escape from her father's grasp for good and continue to go to college to get her degree. She was going to be able to move out and live her life the way she wanted. She was going to get to make friends and have fun, and she was going to find a boy she loved wholeheartedly and marry him on the beach with the waves echoing majestically in the background as they said their bows. Emerald knew she should be happy, but as she stared at her older sister standing in front of three or four mirrors with their father's tailors bustling around her, all she could feel was overwhelming guilt.

"It looks really nice." She said, offering her sister a weak smile.

Amy didn't reply and continued to play with a strand of her hair, which had recently been chopped shorter to get rid of the purple color in it since her father deemed it improper dress for the wedding. When one of the tailors accidentally poked her with one of her pins, she did not help or flinch; in fact, she did not acknowledge it at all and instead continued to stare gloomily at her reflection, her formerly vibrant eyes now dead and dull. It was obvious that her heart lay someplace far out of reach, leaving behind only an empty shell of her feisty, stubborn, brave, loving older sister, and it made Emerald's heart wrench painfully inside her chest.

"Sis...please smile. Please. Even if it's a fake one, please just smile. I want to see you smile again." she pleaded desperately, looking eyes with her sister through the mirror.

Amy held her sister's gaze for a moment then looked away. Clenching her fists, Emerald pushed the tailors aside and forcefully spun her sister around.

"Don't ignore me! If you don't smile then I won't be able to either. Why are you doing this if it hurts you so much?!" she demanded, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Somber silence fell over the room as Emma continued to blubber and sniffle, feverishly wiping at her eyes with the sleeve of her pastel green sweater in a vain attempt to dry her tears. Finally, a small, sad smile broke through Amethyst's stony mask as she gently lifted her sister's chin so she was looking her in the eyes.

"I'm doing this because I love you, Em. You're my little sister and closest friend, and I'm your big sister and your protector. It's my job to look out for you and to keep you out of harm's way, but I was a coward and left you behind when I ran away. I abandoned my duties and left you behind to deal with Father's wrath, and you nearly lost the little freedom you have because of it. I messed up once already; I won't do so again. I'm going to let Dad take your dreams away too. I'm going to finish this once and for all." she cooed lovingly as she tenderly brushed a stray strand of hair from her sibling's face.

"S-Stop talking like that! You're not some sacrificial lamb, Amethyst! I won't be happy unless you're happy! You don't belong with Jumin! You belong with someone who you love and who loves you! You deserve to be with someone like Zen!" Emerald exclaimed.

A dry chuckle escaped Amy's lips. "I thought you didn't approve of me and Zen..."

"That's because I was worried about how Dad would react but I was stupid! Cheesy or not, the things he sent you were so genuine that most people would choke. That's the type of guy you deserve to be with Amy!"

"Oh Em. Some dreams are meant to stay dreams. We may reach for the stars, but if we ever truly got close to one, we would burn-"

"No! Shut up! Don't say that! You're not supposed to talk like that! You're supposed to be brave and say you'll continue to reach for the stars no matter what logic and reason say! You're supposed to be stubborn and sassy and not listen to anyone who tells you what to do! This isn't you! You're not my sister!" Emma wailed before burying her face into her Amy's shoulder and wailing loudly.