ETHANWith a 90s song playing on the radio, Darrel navigated the winding roads as we embarked on our journey to find Agatha. With Darrel and Ada taking the seats in the front of the truck, Tyler, Johnny, and I made ourselves comfortable in the back, surrounded by the hum of the engine and the familiar scent of the open road.I hope this Agatha woman wasn't a psycho or something, I thought to myself.The sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the landscape as we ventured further, my mind not failing to think about the whole issue, wondering if this would help at all."Eh," Tyler let out, turning and resting on the headrest, dozing off.Man, how I wish I could sleep it off too. These thoughts, as per usual, weren't in the least calm.Johnny, who sat closest to me, looked into his phone, laughing at a video on the internet.Darrel estimated that it would take us about three to four hours to reach our destination. We were all settled in, hopeful that this trip would be fruitfu
ADADarrel was scared. Scared as shit, and it was evident even from the way he walked. I could see it with so much clarity, but it wouldn't surprise me if Johnny, Tyler, and Ethan didn't know just why he was scared. Now, I was betting Agatha was as tough as a nail, but let's be real here— it would take way more than that to scare a man like Darrel. So, why was he scared? Why was he hesitant to walk into the compound? Why was he even more hesitant to knock on the door? Well, I felt it was because he knew Agatha was the very last thread of hope we had. If she would cooperate, it would help in getting a lot of this straight. "Come in already," a voice I presumed was Agatha's exclaimed just as Darrel's knuckle hit the door. I hope she's nice, I thought to myself. As we crossed the threshold of Agatha's bungalow, a sense of intrigue enveloped me. I caught myself taking a deep breath, probably out of fear or anxiety. Or both. The ethereal air inside seemed to hit me quite differently,
ETHAN"First and foremost, I must address the fact that embarking on a journey to Ranocayia is quite frankly impossible," Agatha began, her hand firmly grasping the basin of water, its shimmering glow steady. "So many individuals have endeavoured to reach Ranocayia in the past, only to meet with disheartening failure every single time. However, whenever we are discussing Acelia, it is wise to approach the notion of 'impossibility' with caution."Darrel interjected, curiosity evident in his eyes as he leaned in closer to examine the basin. "I presume you have something to show us?"With a snap of her fingers, Agatha transformed the water within the basin, causing it to lose its ethereal essence and resemble ordinary water, with a single crimson spot marring its clarity. "Do you see that little red spot?"Darrel nodded, his gaze fixed on the anomaly within the basin.Agatha pressed on, her tone brimming with intent that she so clearly wanted to get across to us. "That little red spot yo
TYLER***Two Days Later***Over the past few weeks, my daily meditation practice had fallen by the wayside. It was a departure from a somewhat usual routine, as I typically found solace and balance in those moments of calmness. While meditation wasn't a constant in my life, I found it beneficial to tap into that stillness from time to time.Feeling the need for some grounding amidst the chaos that had consumed my thoughts, I made my way to the corner of my room. The floor felt cool beneath me as I lowered myself down, cross-legged, ensuring my posture was perfectly aligned. Taking in the quietude, I closed my eyes, ready to embark on what I often saw as a journey inward.Inhaling slowly, I allowed the air to fill my lungs, expanding my chest before exhaling with equal intention. The rhythm of my breath became a gentle lullaby, coaxing my mind into a state of calmness. Each exhale carried with it the weight of my worries, leaving me feeling centred, if only for this fleeting moment.Ju
TYLER"I won't beat about the bush here," Agatha began, shifting her gaze from one person to another as she spoke. "Neither will I waste my time explaining to you how serious this is, because I know you already know this."In the spirit of not wasting any time, Ethan shot a question at her. "Okay. Uh... how do we get to Ranocayia?"Agatha nodded, as if happy that the question was asked. "Very good, but before I proceed, I would like to make certain everyone here understands why you need to go to Ranocayia to defeat Acelia."Suddenly, Grandma cleared her throat, a telltale sign that she had something important to contribute. The room turned its attention to her, but oddly enough, she remained silent, her gaze fixed on Agatha as if urging her to continue.Unperturbed, Agatha pressed on, her voice a captivating blend of authority and calmness. She began to explain that venturing into the depths of Ranocayia held such importance not just because of its location, but because of the incredi
TYLERAfter receiving Ada's message, my curiosity was piqued, and I made my way to the nearby café where she had told me to meet her. As I stepped through the door, a familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee enveloped me, and casting a searching gaze around the room, I finally spotted Ada, perched at a table by the window, her eyes fixed on the somewhat bustling main road.With a smile on my face, I approached her table and settled into the seat across from her. In that moment, I couldn't help but notice the twinkle in her eyes, a mix of anticipation and something else I couldn't quite decipher."You said you wanted to see me," I said, leaning in slightly, my voice laced with curiosity. "Oh, you got coffee for me."My lips curved into a smile as I noticed the steaming cup of coffee she held in her hands—she got it just the way I liked it.Ada's response was a simple, enigmatic nod, her focus still lingering outside the window.Now, this could just be overthinking, but it felt like ther
ADAYou know that moment when you're caught between a rock and a hard place, torn between what you feel like you should do and what your heart truly desires? It's a struggle that leaves you feeling conflicted, trapped in a web of emotions. And let me tell you, I despised this every bit as much as you do.As I stepped out of the room and made my way towards the living room, I feigned interest in the music blaring through my headphones. But deep down, I couldn't escape the gnawing feeling of guilt that consumed me. It was as if a heavy cloud of remorse hung over my head, tethering me to the ground.Finding solace on the cushion nearest to the freezer, I sank into it, feeling the weight of my actions settle heavily upon my chest. My mind was filled with self-criticism and what could be a deep sense of disappointment in myself. In that moment, I couldn't help but feel like the worst person in the entire world."Darn it," I whispered to myself, my eyes closed, the words seeming to echo in
ETHANIt was about 10am in the morning and the cleaner was about to leave the bookshop. It was indeed a thorough clean, and she only came to clean the bookshop twice a month.“You know I told you I came the other day, but you weren't around,” she said, packing her things up. “Your next door neighbour told me you haven't been opening the shop as much as you used to.”Nodding, I said, “I’m sorry, Elaine. It's just life being life, I'm afraid.”Right after that, she left, leaving me alone for barely a minute before customers came in.As I tended to them, my mind went back to that moment in Agatha's house when she looked at me, saying I was powerful but not strong enough to face Acelia. Now, to a great extent, I took that as a compliment. Look, Acelia was often feared as though she wasn't a human. Wait… was she even human since she had conquered death? Anyway, my point was, for the fact that Agatha even mentioned me being powerful meant that I was much stronger than I knew.As I stood, I