Welcome to My World

Chapter 55 Ellis' POV {Ain't Friends With The Monster, Inside of My Head}

Midnight approaches. After the sword fight (stick fight?) we treated injuries (i.e., NaNoers who got stepped on) and ate some burgers that had suspicious things in them (I pulled a handkerchief out of mine) and then made snow angels in what little snow remained (until Sky cracked some sick joke about boys and snow) then we went inside at 9:30 to watch a movie while waiting for midnight.

Runaan, Ethari, and Harrow skip the movie, though. I can hear them whispering and giggling as they rearrange boxes of fireworks. Oh no.

"What are we watching?" Ez asks innocently. As if we haven't been listening closely to the exchange with various NaNoers. How do they even know so much about us?

"The Dragon Prince." Rayla answered nonchantly as she loaded Netflix. Wait, what? That sounds familiar.

Soon, a logo pops up, opening to a picture of Bait in Katolis. I recognize the castle. Ez looks at me with alarm.

"Huh, looks familiar." Callum commented, looking up from his comic. Rayla thinks it's about astronomy, but Ez told me it isn't. Something about strange animals and living dead skulls.

"Huh, yeah. It does." Rayla replied, looking uncertain about it. "Have we watched this before?"

"No, not that I remember." Callum recalled, setting aside his comic. "What's it about?"

"An extraordinary discovery inspires two human princes and an elven assassin to team up on an epic quest to bring peace to their warring lands." Rayla reads aloud. "That's it. Should we watch it?"

Ez and I swallow nervously, but there's nothing we can do to stop Rayla from playing the first episode. A strange, deep voice recites the history of Xadia, then it opens. Rain is pounding away at the windows as a boy who is clearly Ez drools on Bait in his sleep. Callum is in another room, sketching a marshmallow monster. Thunder booms, and he yelps, waking up Ez. I look to Ez, and he confirms it with a slight nod.

This all happened.

Later, in episode 7, The Dagger and The Wolf, I appear. Me! Ellis! It's exactly as I remember it happening. I opened the door to two strange boys who asked me about the mysterious healer who fixed Ava's leg. I scratch her behind the ear, and she thumps her tail.

The rest of it blurs by while I go crazy on the inside. Who made it? How do they know so much about us? Why did Rayllum decide to watch it all of a sudden?

It swirled around in my mind the whole time until Ez shook my shoulder. I bolted upright, keenly aware that I'd been leaning on him. "Hah?!"

"Calm down, Elle. You fell asleep. But there's fireworks, and I don't want you to miss them." Ez says gently. The clock declares that it's almost midnight, and the room's empty now. I can hear laughter from outside.

"Fireworks?" I echo groggily.

"You'll see." Ez says mysteriously. Before I can react, he scoops me up off the couch. It briefly occurs to me that I'm older than him and much too old to be carried anyways. I squirm, but I'm too tired and he's so much stronger in the Otherworld. And if I'm being honest with myself? I'm happy.

Outside, the stars shine as if someone has thrown silver glitter into the sky. It's cold, clear, more like home.

Home.

I haven't thought about Winterpeak in ages. I wonder what my father and mother are doing.

Not Mom. She hasn't been seen for years.

No. I wonder how my father is doing all alone.

Why did I leave?

Because my friends needed me.

More than Dad? More than Jahnny?

In spite of myself, I flinch and shiver. Ez wraps his jacket around me, even if I insist I'm not cold.

Ha. Says the girl who-

I didn't. I didn't mean to; didn't want to.

You killed-

I did not. I can't.

Mom. You killed her.

I didn't; it was an accident, I can't; I didn't know.

Yes, you did. Your friend too, what was her name? That pretty, dark haired girl.

No.

Oh, yes. Why you had to ask Lujanne.

I didn't. She... She ran off. I didn't mean it; didn't know it.

Why you love the Moon Arcanum soooooo much.

I don't!

Things aren't always as they seem. You know that better than most.

No, no, no, no

Yes, it was her fault then that she died?

I didn't want her to. I liked her. We were friends.

Were?

She's gone.

Oh, yes. She is. Because of you. With her pretty elven name.

Stop it.

Selenie, you nicknamed her.

Please.

But her name was-

"Ellis? Ellis!"

No. It wasn't my fault.

That's why you're always so happy. Because you believe you have to make it up to them.

Please, don't.

Selena and your mom.

"Ellis?! Please, answer me! Are you ok?"

Ezran. I remember.

Why? Are you going to kill him too?

No. He wants to help me. He loves me.

So did your mother. Selenie did too. You hurt everyone you love.

"Ez?" I whisper.

His face appears over me, along with Ava's, Callum's, Rayla's... Everyone is crowded around me.

"Ellis?" Rayla asks in concern.

"What happened?" Callum adds. "You wouldn't respond, and you started crying, and breathing fast and acting like someone was holding you too tight. Not like Ez, like someone was trying to take you somewhere."

"I... I..." Thought these were over when I got Ava.

"Ez, guys." Aanya says. "We should take care of her, not pester her with questions. Ez, take her in the house. You guys. just watch from the balcony."

Ez nods, and he carries me back up into the house, up the stairs. He opens the balcony door, settling down on a bench. I sit next to him. His arm wraps around me, and I relish the warmth, trying to dispel the bad thoughts.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Ez asks again.

"I am now." I say, leaning against him. The world screams midnight and the sky explodes with colors.

Happy New Year's.

Enjoy while you can.