Neverland

Chapter One

"What is that?" Celeste asked, pointing at the tall luminous white buildings in the far distance.

"That is where the Gods reside," answered Asmodeus. "Those buildings are said to be at the center of Nusquam, where everyone can see and be reminded of the existence of the Gods."

"Reminded?"

"Yes, reminded that the Gods are always present and aware of everything within Nusquam."

Asmodeus was a strange woman. She came and went as she pleased, sometimes she would leave for days before coming back to the small little house near the forest she now shares with Celeste.

When asked about where and what she was doing, Asmodeus would simply reply with, "Searching."

It made Celeste wonder, what was she looking for? But she could never bring herself to ask. Not when Asmodeus would always come back looking so disappointed and bitter. Some nights, when Asmodeus thought she was asleep, she could hear her crying in her room, choking down her sobs.

'What are you looking for?' The question at the tip of her tongue, 'What is it that causes you to be so despairing?' But she never asks. Perhaps it's because she wants to believe that she doesn't know how, perhaps it's because deep down she doesn't want to know, perhaps it's because of her selfishness and jealousy.

Every time Asmodeus would leave to search, it would scare her. Why is it that this thing that she'll maybe never find monopolizes her attention so much? Why is it that despite being the person here now, she is still looking at something so far out of reach? What if she leaves and never comes back to me? Celeste cannot bear that thought of Asmodeus leaving her, Asmodeus was the only one she knew in this place called Nusquam. Asmodeus was the one who taught her how to live in this strange life. Asmodeus was her savior. So perhaps it's selfishness that makes her think and hope that Asmodeus would never find what she's looking for. Then, she'll always come back home to her.

One day, as Asmodeus was getting ready to go on another trip of hers, what normally would have happened was Celeste would help Asmodeus pack all in while making half-hearted excuses for her not to go and Asmodeus would go anyways. However, today was different. Celeste felt her stomach sink, but unable to pinpoint what was wrong as she watched Asmodeus go through the same motions as she always did. It was like a warning, if she had known then, she would have never let Asmodeus leave the house that day. Today, Celeste felt desperate, unknown to what caused her to feel like this. All she knew was she can't let Asmodeus leave today.

However, despite everything, all the excuses Celeste could come up with and begging to go along with her, Asmodeus left alone. Leaving behind Celeste who gazed at her back as she slowly disappeared within the forest.

At first, all Celeste could do was comfort herself by thinking that it'll be the same as all her other trips, Asmodeus will come home. As time went by, day after day, all she could feel was dread.

'Maybe she ran into trouble, she'll be home by tomorrow.'

Another day.

'Maybe she wanted to take a longer trip this time, she'll be back soon.'

Another week.

'She'll come back, I know she will. She has to.'

Another month.

'She... What am I supposed to do now?'

Asmodeus wasn't coming back.