💫 Starburst ⭐️

Starburst; Part 9

The Woman In Grey

Lacey woke up at dawn, the sky was still pink. She looked around. Astiana and Katherine had insisted for her to sleep before looking for the flash. Of course, neither of them knew what the flash actually looked like.

Katherine was up already, and it seemed like she was coming to wake Lacey up.

"Where's Astiana?" Lacey startled poor Katherine, who jumped for her life. "Gosh! You scared the daylights out of me!"

"She's out picking berries," she added. Lacey apologized and walked back underneath the shade of the tree. She slowly moved behind it and pulled on her tights and purple dress.

By the time she went to Katherine, Astiana had returned and was now eating berries for breakfast. Lacey sat down calmly, then glanced at Astiana to say hello. "Put the berry down!!!" she yelled. But it was too late.

Astiana had eaten a Monglie berry. It was an extremely poisonous berry, that if Lacey ate it, she would've died.

Katherine looked at Lacey questioningly. "Why?" She asked. As if to answer her question, Astiana groaned. "That's a very poisonous berry. It is death causing for children, and for grown ups... maybe enough to make them drowsy," Lacey replied.

"It hurts!" Astiana whined and sank to the ground. Her eyes weren't bright anymore. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

"She's... saying we have to keep moving," Katherine bit her lip and looked like she was near tears. "No. Not without her!" Lacey sat beside the lethargic woman, who seemed to weaken by the second. "There's a cure but I can't put my finger on it..." Lacey said.

"This is a really peaceful forest. There aren't any poisonous berries here... do you think somebody planted it?" Katherine asked. Lacey's eyes suddenly lit up. "Plehanery flowers! She needs Plehanery flowers!" Lacey squealed. "Um..." Katherine blushed.

"Don't tell me you don't know what those are?!" Lacey gasped. "The Katherine Ronicale not knowing what Plehanery flowers are?! Stay here and take care of Astiana, I'm going to get some..." and before Katherine could object, she bounded off into the forest.

Lacey looked around. Plehanery flowers were yellow flowers with a dark blue middle. They had eight petals, all pointed.

She bent down to sniff a daffodil. "Nope. Not a Plehanery... but a beautiful daffodil," Lacey murmured out loud.

She picked it up and started walking around again. "Looking for something?" A British accent smirked. Lacey remembered the last time she'd answered to an accent voice. The Fear Suckers.

No, I can't trust this lady, Lacey thought. "Yes you can!" the voice exclaimed. Lacey smacked her forehead. Another person who could hear her thoughts? As if Astiana comforting her because of the fear in her head wasn't enough!

Lacey walked towards the voice, who now seemed to be humming.

She felt a sharp tap on her shoulder.

Lacey turned, and gasped. "What? Just because I don't brush my hair and haven't slept for three days doesn't mean I'm ugly!" The blonde woman crossed her arms on her chest.

She had her blonde white curly hair put up in a messy bun, and dark circles formed around her eyes. She seemed to be wearing black eyeshadow, and perhaps her cheeks were naturally grey?

If she disclosed the fact that the woman had sharp teeth and naturally grey cheeks, Lacey thought she looked quiet pretty. "You aren't ugly... but I do have to ask. Who are you?" Lacey demanded.

"Mackenna," she stared at Lacey. "And your last name?" Lacey was more used to people introducing themselves with their last names. "I don't use a last name. My family is my disgrace," Mackenna patted her bun.

Lacey thought about something. About how badly she'd want a family while this 'Mackenna' was just throwing it away. Then, she remembered who was being her family right now.

Katherine and Astiana. Lacey walked towards Mackenna. "Do you know how badly some people want a family? And your just throwing yours away?!" Lacey exclaimed, her cheeks becoming red from anger.

"Teach me then," Mackenna said it so simply, so calmly, Lacey just wanted to squeeze her lungs out. "I don't have a family. My family... they left me. I never wanted a new one. I just want my old ones back..." Lacey then, at that moment, realized how terrible it was to be without parents.

And then, she remembered Katherine and Astiana. Astiana! Lacey looked at Mackenna's dark pupils. They meant evil all right. Mackenna was trying to pull Lacey away from the real mission!

"I'm not going to help you. Go back where you came from Mackenna," Lacey said simply, and turned her back. She started walking, and then a long slimy arm grabbed her.

It was a tentacle.