Tales of Aridia

My Hope

As that night crept to the corners of my memory I diverted my attention to something else. To the end of the month a carnival was being planned in the town center. It was one of the largest events to come. The food, the music, the people, all perfect for power hungry magical beings. Myself and Max had planned to stay on the lookout, and keep our eyes open for anything suspicious. Jayden had isolated himself, avoiding me I suspected. For a few moments I contemplated asking him to join me and Max, but with the rivalry between the both I thought better of it. Hope was in and out of hospital, occasionally for a week at a time.  One morning I left the house early to see Hope, making my way down the cobble path towards the main road. I had tried using magic to teleport there, but it used too much energy. I felt the rush of power flow to my fingertips and then sizzle out like a flame. Short distances it could be done, but I was often left tired and dizzy, with little energy bubbling inside me. 

I swung open the glass door and stood in the waiting room. No one was there except a girl who hung her head low, staring at the pile of magazines scattered on the table. She tapped her foot nervously on the marble floor but then stopped when she heard my feet pound closer. She rose her head and stared at me through small cracked glasses, it was Lucy. "I didn't know you woe glasses," I said. The small talk made Lucy uncomfortable and she took off the glasses and flung them to the side. "Have you seen Hope?" I asked. Lucy looked at me through the gaps in her hair, "No," she said. Her hair was dirty and tangled, the grease could be seen glistening under the lights, she had not washed in days. "Maybe you should go home," I suggested. Lucy didn't say anything, her head dropped lower as she shuffled further away.

 I walked to the front desk where a tall skinny woman popped her head around a corner. "Yes dear?" She asked. "I'm here for Hope," I said. "I'm sorry dear but Hope won't be having any guests today," She replied. I strolled out of the waiting room towards Hope's room. Sure enough the big blue curtains were drawn and the door was locked. A white light shone through the bottom of the door, Hope must have been awake. I sat with my back against the door. fiddling with my fingertips nervously. "Hope?" I said, my cheek pressed up against the cold metal door. "Robyn?" Hope croaked. I laughed happily and placed a hand on the door, "How are you feeling?" I asked. "I'm okay," She said. Her voice was cracked and muffled, like she had been crying. "I'm going to a carnival tonight with Max," I said, trying to distract Hope. Hope had gone silent. I called her name out again but she did not answer. A panic grew in my stomach, I ran to the nurse at the front desk. "Please, I think something's happened!" I yelled. The nurse ran after me, unlocking the door to Hopes room. Hope was sprawled out on her bed, with her eyes closed.  The nurse placed to fingers on her neck and sighed. "Dear she is only sleeping." The nurse said.  I gasped, overwhelmed with relief. Lucy had followed the nurse and was stood behind me, she scowled at me, angry that I had worried her. 

I decided it was best to leave and threw on my coat before scurrying out of the hospital. 

The night came by swiftly and me and Max arrived at the carnival. People were dressed head to toe in unusual costumes. The colours and the lights made me dizzy and I could not concentrate on any one person. "We should separate," Max said. "Good idea," I replied before walking around the outskirts of one of the larger carnival tents. It was quieter and the music had dulled out. I scoured the area but nothing could be seen. All of a sudden a fuss arised from the center of the carnival. Quickly me and Max found ourselves by a bonfire, two men were brawling surrounded by a cheering crowd. I pushed myself through and saw Jayden throwing himself violently at a middle aged man. They both seemed extremely drunk and had no coordination. "Jayden!" I yelled across the crowd. Jayden turned and his eyes focused on my face.  He couldn't see me well amongst the red glaring lights and the fire blazing from the bonfire. Soon the man punched Jayden in the back of the head, leaving him limp on the floor. "I'll call an ambulance," Max said. 

I held Jayden's head on my lap, trying to wake him up. I had not noticed the man stood above me with a broken beer bottle in his hand. Jayden's eyes fluttered open and he saw the man looming over me. "Robyn..." he whispered. "What?" I asked. As the man above me swung Jayden threw himself over my head, protecting me from the blow but leaving a deep cut in his forehead. Luckily, the ambulance was quick and came to pick Jayden up almost instantly. Out of the doors the brought a bed and placed Jayden's body upon it. A nurse rushed over to me, her hands shaking rapidly. "Are you a friend of Hope's?" She asked. "Yes..."I said nervously. The nurse ushered me to follow, leading me into another ambulance.  As we sat silently in the ambulance the nurse kept looking up to speak, but would force the words back down her throat.

The silence was becoming exhausting, "What do you have to say?" I asked. The nurse gulped, stuttering she said, "Your friend is dead miss." She said, unable to look me in the eye. 

The journey to the hospital was long and silent. Even the voice in the back of my head had quietened. I couldn't think about it, I didn't want to. Hope was a fighter, she was supposed to live...she was going to survive. It's a lie, I thought. Maybe she was sleeping and they got it mixed up liked I did. Yes...that's it. I stared down at my hands. For my tenth birthday  Hope had given me a ring, it was shaped like feathers. I still wore it to this day. I recalled what she said, "Never take it off as long as we are friends, which is forever." Hope said we would be friends forever, she promised. She couldn't die, she would be breaking the promise, Hope never breaks a promise, I thought. 

The hospital was drenched in tears. Family members crowded the doorway, overwhelmed in sadness. They had all accepted her death so easily. The world stopped spinning , everything slowed. A nurse lead me by the arm to her room. The white light that shone underneath the door was off, a dark shadow cast under the crack. Outside her mother howled in sorrow, silencing everyone else. Lucy sat by Hope's side, kneeling by the edge of the bed. "How long have you been here?" I asked her. "A few hours," She said bluntly.  "But the doctors said she died half an hour ago," I said. Lucy nodded slowly, "Yes that's right." She said. 

Anger began to brew, all my frustrations I held against Lucy were about to come out at once. "She was dying and you didn't think to call me?!" I shouted. "You didn't deserve to see her last moments," Lucy muttered.  That was the end of the line, I had it with Lucy. "Look at me!" I yelled. Lucy slowly turned her face around, revealing her tear filled eyes. "If you had not shared your magic with Hope she wouldn't have died," Lucy said. "Hope having magic has nothing to do with this. Is that why you hate me so much? You think I'm responsible for this?" I said. Lucy remained silent, staring at my feet. Her pouting did not fool me and I was so enraged that I crouched down to her level, looked her in the eyes, and slapped her across the face. "Get out." I said. The door slammed and I was left alone with my dear dead friend. I collapsed onto the floor balling my eyes out, and clenching onto the sheets of Hope's bed. "Please come back, I need you." I whispered.