Tales of Aridia

Secrets

"Thought you'd be here." I said. Lucy laughed but didn't turn around. "I knew you would find me," she said. We stood there gazing across the hospital, every person scattered about like insects on a lake. The ambulances rolled in like dice with small red flashing lights. Lucy was standing on a balcony that leaned over the top of the building. Similar to Hope she was also washed white. "You need staff permission to get up here you know," I said to Lucy who was paying little attention. "I'm sure they'll let me off," she replied dismissively.

I had forgotten about the note that was stuffed at the bottom of my pocket and was about to show it to Lucy, before she stopped me. She stared at me with eyes I had never seen before. "I have to tell you Robyn because if I don't Hope never will." A single tear dropped down her colour ridden face and she hugged me tighter than she had ever hugged me before. "Tell me what?" I asked. I could feel Lucy's heart beating in her chest, it grew quicker and quicker with every second that passed. Lucy stared at me as if she was trying to look into my soul. She let go of my arm and stepped back to leave the balcony before turning around, "Hope has cancer Robyn."

I was struck with a pain that embedded itself deep into my heart. And as Lucy walked away on that cold morning, I thought about my life without Hope. Everyone seemed to be walking away. The anger that she didn't tell me was washed away by the sadness that built up inside me. The thought of losing her carved a whole out of my body and I was left empty. All I could do was go home. And so I did.

Skating on thin ice would be the term to describe my life at that point. The willingness and curiosity to decipher the note seared through my veins like a poison. I had no contact with Lucy or Hope, I knew they were avoiding me at all costs. A few weeks had passed by since knowing about Hopes condition. I had not bothered to ask how long they had kept it a secret from me, it would either be pointless or I would be too scared to know the answer.

My ties with Max we starting to loosen and I found myself talking to him less and less. I had so many questions. I just couldn't find the time to ask them. My school work and career ahead of me seemed but a dream, there were more pressing matters on my plate. This mostly consisted of controlling my powers and above all, spending most of my time and energy deciphering that note.

In the late hours of one particularly cold and icy evening I settled down in my fur quilt and laid down on my bed. While breaking in and out of consciousness I felt a warm glow on my face. Finally I pulled myself out of the trance...or so I thought. Something was different, something was sinister. The corners of my room were absorbed in darkness and I couldn't make out the things around me. I regularly had dreams like these. They played on my fears, but this one seemed different. In contrast to the dark malevolent thing that I suspected was behind me, when it finally spoke I was taken by surprise.  In a sweet and innocent tone it clearly said, "Robyn don't move." As soon as the words escaped her mouth I was silenced and still. A gentle breeze whisked into the room and a warm breath settled on the back of my neck.  "Oh Robyn, poor little girl," the voice said. The frills at the end of her dress brushed my back. It was jagged and rough yet her hands were smooth and porcelain. "You are forgetting something so important."

I didn't see her face, every time I looked up it was like my eyes were forced back down. "For now flower, sleep and know that thing will get better,"

Involuntarily I was laid on the bed. Something crept into the corner of my room but I was locked in position. There was no escape. I was paralysed from head to toe but I felt no fear. The presence gave me warmth and happiness, like all the bad things in my life had been wiped away. I did as I was told, my eyes closed and I drifted off to sleep. The quiet click of the balcony door was all that could be heard, as the thing whisked off into the night.