AFTERLIFE :: Riverdale

XVI: Lollipop Chainsaw

Author's Note: Riverdale Awards nominations end tomorrow :)

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Do you think it was destiny?" she asked me.

I stared up at the pink sky, my hands under my head, my legs crossed, and a small smile placed upon my lips. There was a book beside me, but it didn't hold my interest for long. I tried to ignore the question for as long as I could to instead watch the clouds like cotton candy drift overhead. To answer would have put an emotional weight on me that I could not stand to bear.

Laying next to me, she turned her head with concern at my silence. I could see in the oceans she called eyes the worry she felt for me. Her brows came together, and she looked away from me and up at the sky which shone down on her rosy cheeks and blue lips.

In a move of mischief, I moved over on my side and allowed my hand to play with her ponytail with a secretive delight. The strands entwined between my fingers slipped away as she pulled her head from me, laughing as I was caught.

With eyes closed, she pulled her knees to her chin. I sat somewhat, propped up by my lower arm and alarmed at this action of hers. I edged nearer, but she turned her head away from me.

"It wasn't meant to be," she said, all happiness drained from her voice. I didn't want her to feel this way. Especially not now when we were having such a nice moment.

"Don't say that!" I pleaded. "We're going to be alright," I said, but I concentrated solely on grabbing for her hand. She held it away no matter what I did.

She pulled up on her long, white wedding dress and stood. Her veil had been pulled back already. I darted after her as she walked away. Closely, I followed, but it seemed that she was always one step ahead of me.

"Please, come back!" I screamed out for her, but she gave no reply, instead continuing to walk along a path of pink-tinged meadow grass.

I wouldn't give up on her. I ran as quickly as my legs would carry, but it felt as if I was skidding backwards for every dash forward. She was slipping out of my sight. My mind was racing with Thought. I couldn't give up.

Finally, she turned around at the edge of a cliff overlooking with charcoal water. I reached out a hand, but she fell back and disappeared out of sight, her figure consumed only by mere Memory. I was numb to move. There was nothing I could do. I was completely paralyzed. I closed my eyes and screamed.

But then, when I opened them again, all was quiet for the most part. I could hear the gentle breeze blowing against the grass beneath me and a couple of jays tweeting.

Looking around, I surmised that this was where I was just seconds ago. She was there, lying down once more and I laid beside her again on my back. Also, the book was there again. Its cover was blank, I now noticed.

"Do you think it was destiny?" she asked again.

I gulped, not knowing how to respond. If I gave her silence, she would just run away again. I didn't really know how to feel about it.

"I don't know." I answered truthfully.

Her expression told me that the response wasn't totally agreeable with her. She rose to a sitting position and eyed me with a suddenly intense hatred. I backed away.

"What do you mean, 'you don't know'? You either know or you don't know." she chided.

I held up my hands. "I'm sorry, I just don't know."

I backed up to get away from her and soon she was standing above me. Behind me, I felt someone approach and lift me up to my feet. I struggled to get out of their grasp, but found myself unable to. Guilt held me back from screaming out for her as she departed from my sight.