Terror. A dimension mirroring the living one--but morphed to reflect the imagination of its Overseer. And the current Overseer... has refused to relinquish her power for centuries, tormenting her souls--"terrors"--into becoming... zombies.
Arielle f...
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The flames became something of a background noise, a flickering soundtrack for an emotional moment, like in the movies. But this was no movie—this was Arielle, forced into her spotlight to reveal the truth to Jade. It wasn't ideal—with a fiery house as a backdrop and an otherworldly being opening an inflamed gate to push her into danger at any second. But this was destiny. The universe had chosen for her, and it was now or never.
Arielle's insides chilled over; not from the Being's power, but from her resolve lessening, her confidence dimming. Did it matter, in truth? Whether she told Jade or not, she'd be in the Void, and likely unable to ever ascend to the Soul Realm. Having been in Terror, she was tainted. So did she need to confess this huge news to her best friend and risk altering their friendship forever?
She cringed.
But it's not like we'll ever see each other again, so...
"Jade," she said, holding back her tears with difficulty. Several had already spilled from her eyes, and Jade's soft fingers had brushed them away, worsening Arielle's challenge to not cry. The simplest contact of Jade's skin on Arielle's was enough to wake her heart, her desire, her affection—but she needed to be level-headed and strong for this. "Jade, I..."
"Hey," Jade slipped her fingers between Arielle's, "you'd already accepted my death, right? More or less?" She squeezed, and her own eyes glimmered with unshed tears. "So how is this any different? We're both dead, which sucks, but... know I'll always have you in my heart. I know I'll be in yours."
Arielle heard the flames growing restless and wondered if that meant the Being was failing. Would he not be able to create a passage through the fire and into Penelope's dwelling? It would give Arielle more time to formulate her words, to prepare a speech. It wasn't every day one had to tell their best friend that they loved them... more than as a friend.
Jade wasn't homophobic, but how would she react to this? Tell Arielle to fuck off? Laugh at her and take it as a joke? Or was there a chance, an infinitely small possibility, that she might reciprocate Arielle's feelings?
Refraining from snorting, Arielle shook her head at her own thoughts. It wouldn't make a difference—even if Jade did, by some miracle, feel the same way, their love was an impossible one. They were destined to live out their after-lives in different dimensions, never to see one another again. Love? For dead souls?
Not a thing, for sure. Oscar and his theories about arousal were wrong.
"It's not that." Arielle sucked her lips between her teeth, released a large breath from her nostrils, and squeezed Jade's fingers still tucked between hers. "It's my unfinished business. It's about you. And I can't leave... not without..."
Jade squinted at her, a tiny twitch to her lips. A smile? The beginnings of a frown? Arielle couldn't tell. "Me?" She didn't let go of Arielle, but her fingers loosened, became limp. "Why am I your unfinished business? Did I do something to you while we were alive? Something that stopped you from passing over to the Soul Realm?"
